December 7, 2022 - Merced – On December 7, 2022, at approximately 3:17 P.M., Merced PD Detectives located and arrested a 16-year-old boy who told people he planned on doing a school shooting.

The incident was originally reported to the UC Merced Police Department. Witnesses reported talking to the boy who said he was going to do a “Columbine-Style” shooting. It was determined through the initial investigation that the boy lived in the city of Merced.

The investigation was turned over to the Merced Police Department. Merced PD detectives were serving a warrant at the juvenile’s residence when they learned he was at another location. They located the 16-year-old and took him into custody without incident.

Current state law prevents law enforcement from questioning juveniles without an attorney being present. As a result, the investigation remains ongoing as detectives attempt to identify a motive for the shooting and any schools that may have been targeted.

The juvenile was booking into the Iris Garret Juvenile Justice Correctional Complex for various charges to include criminal threats.

Merced Police are asking anyone with any information regarding this incident to contact Detective Christian Lupian at (209)388-7844 or by email at lupianc@cityofmerced.org.

Case Number: 2022-71165

Other ways to contact us or report crime include:

For any emergency call or text 911

For non-emergency call 209-385-6912

Anonymous Tip Line (Non-emergency) call 209-385-4725

Anonymous Tips online at http://www.mercedareacrimestoppers.org/index.html.

Some crimes can be reported online through the Merced PD website https://www.cityofmerced.org/departments/police.

Source: Merced Police Department