Juvenile Arrested for School Shooting Threat
March 5, 2025 – Merced, CA – Merced Police Department officials report that a 16-year-old juvenile and his father were arrested on Monday, March 3, 2025, following an investigation into a reported shooting threat at Golden Valley High School.
On March 3, 2025, after school had already been dismissed for the day, Golden Valley High School staff received a report from a concerned parent stating that their children had witnessed a 16-year-old student making threats to harm other students with whom he had ongoing disputes. Additionally, there was a belief that the suspect may have been in possession of a firearm on campus.
Upon receiving this information, school administrators immediately contacted the school resource officer, who initiated an investigation. Merced Police Department investigators worked in coordination with Golden Valley High School staff to identify the suspect. Through the course of the investigation, it was determined that the suspect resided in a rural area of the county, prompting law enforcement to obtain and serve a search warrant at the suspect's residence.
During the search, investigators discovered that the juvenile’s father, Jonathan Olvera, 35, had six firearms in the home, all of which were found unsecured. As a result, Olvera was arrested on charges of child endangerment, and all six firearms were seized. Additionally, a search of the juvenile’s room resulted in the discovery of a BB gun designed to resemble a real firearm. The 16-year-old suspect was subsequently arrested and booked into juvenile hall on charges related to criminal threats and firearm offenses.
The Merced Police Department remains committed to working closely with the Merced Union High School District to address all reports of school-related threats promptly and thoroughly. The safety of students and staff remains a top priority, and all credible threats will be investigated with the utmost diligence. The Merced Police Department is reminding all residents to ensure their firearms are properly secured at their homes. Firearm safety is a shared responsibility, and securing firearms in a safe and responsible manner is crucial for the well-being of our community.
Case Number: 25-11380
Merced Police are asking anyone with any information regarding this crime to contact Detective Edwin Arias at 209-388-7826 or by email at AriasE@CityofMerced.org.
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 & photo: Merced Police Department
