DAs warn students, parents about school threats ahead of academic year

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Prosecutors in Cameron and Hidalgo counties are addressing the rise in school shooting threats and drug use on campuses as the new school year begins.

Both counties have seen an increase in threats made by students on social media, leading to disruptions in schools and communities. District attorneys are emphasizing the seriousness of these threats, which can result in felony charges.

"The last couple of years, unfortunately, we have seen a spike in students getting on social media and threatening acts of violence, false alarms, terroristic threats," said Luis V. Saenz, Cameron County District Attorney.

"If you are doing adult things, then we can certify you and try to punish you as an adult," said Toribio "Terry" Palacios, Hidalgo County District Attorney.

Luis V. Saenz highlighted the impact of these threats, noting that they not only interrupt classes but also disrupt entire communities. Parents often leave work to pick up their children, and schools go on lockdown.

In Texas, making a school threat can lead to hefty fines and felony charges, with some cases classified as third-degree felonies, carrying sentences of two to ten years in prison.

Vaping, especially products containing THC, is another concern for prosecutors. Students may not realize that vaping certain substances can lead to felony charges.

Palacios explained that if vaping products contain THC levels above 0.4, it becomes a state jail felony, resulting in legal consequences and school disciplinary actions.

Both district attorneys stress the importance of parental involvement in prevention, suggesting that parents check their children's phones and stay engaged in their lives.

As schools in the Valley prepare to start classes, prosecutors hope that raising awareness will help prevent incidents before they occur.

All facts in this report were gathered by journalists employed by KVEO. Artificial intelligence tools were used to reformat from a broadcast script into a news article for our website. This report was edited and fact-checked by KVEO staff before being published.