A 12-year-old boy from Yuma, Arizona, is potentially facing legal consequences due to threatening messages he sent in a local youth soccer team’s group chat. The Yuma Police Department (YPD) reported that the situation unfolded when officials were alerted to the messages on Monday afternoon.
Threatening Messages Spark Concerns
The messages suggested a troubling incident might occur at the Ray Kroc Athletic Complex. As a precautionary measure, parents opted to cancel the soccer practice scheduled for that evening. To ensure safety in the area, police increased their presence and conducted thorough security checks at the park.
Investigation Reveals Mistake
Following an investigation, authorities discovered that the 12-year-old boy was mistakenly added to the youth soccer team’s group chat. He had no prior connection to the team’s activities. During questioning, the boy confessed to sending the threatening texts, claiming that they were intended as a joke.
Case Submission to Juvenile Justice System
The Yuma Police Department stated that the case will be submitted to the Yuma County Juvenile Justice Center for further examination. Community members, like Clifton Bogie, who regularly walks in the area, expressed their concerns about such threats among youth. Bogie commented, “I’m glad that nothing serious happened, but it’s pretty ridiculous that these kids nowadays make these threats, which is unsubstantiated.”
- Incident: Threatening messages sent in soccer group chat
- Location: Ray Kroc Athletic Complex, Yuma, Arizona
- Police Involvement: Increased patrols and security checks
- Current Status: Case forwarded to juvenile justice system
