SALT LAKE CITY — Salt Lake City police arrested a student who they say brought a gun to East High School on Friday.
Police said they recovered a gun and ammunition from the student after administrators alerted resource officers about a social media post reportedly depicting an East High School student holding a gun.
When the student arrived at the school, they were taken into custody. During the search of the student’s backpack, officers found the gun and bullets.
The student was taken to the Salt Lake Valley Detention Center where they will be referred to the 3rd District Juvenile Court for prosecution. Their identity is not being released because they are a minor.
The arrest comes just a few days after a student at West High School was taken into custody for a threat made on TikTok that led to the school being placed under lockdown. The student was one of three originally detained by officials during the incident. The others were released to their parents or guardians. Police said the gun was found on campus, but no further details were given.
READ: Multiple threats made at Utah schools, part of nationwide trend
Parents, school officials and law enforcement across Utah and the nation were especially on edge Friday after a viral trend involving threats of school shootings was reportedly spreading around TikTok.
WATCH: Unconfirmed TikTok threats force extra security at most Utah schools Friday
Authorities don’t yet know if Friday's incident is related to the trend, but Salt Lake City Police Chief Mike Brown did address the troubling nature of potentially violent social media challenges.
"As a parent myself, I am very concerned about what is happening. Our students deserve to come to school every day and be safe," Brown said. "But just because it's a threat or maybe a joke, it is no less serious, and we don't find a lot of humor in that."
Brown also issued a stern message to parents to make sure their children don’t have access to guns at home.
"It is okay to be nosy. It is not against the law. It is not a crime to be a nosy parent who knows what is in your kid's backpack before they go to school," he said.
Salt Lake City School District Superintendent Timothy Gadson echoed Brown's message.
"Of course, it's a fright for any of us when we see that on our campus," Gadson said. "I encourage parents and students: If they know something, if they see something, to say something," Gadson said. "Reach out, call, email, contact the PD, let someone know."
