Lake Tahoe Community College investigates alleged gun threat made by student

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Officials with Lake Tahoe Community College (LTCC) and South Lake Tahoe Police Department are investigating an alleged gun threat made by a student on campus June 13.

The head of campus security is conducting an internal investigation and the police and other security personnel are also involved with their own investigations. They have interviewed the unidentified student who allegedly made the statement in front of another student while in a science class.

The exact words said are not clear at this time and witnesses are being interviewed, though the student told authorities he did not make any threats. He was not confrontational when questioned and answered questions.

"The student in question has been confronted and is now suspended pending results of the investigation," said Jeff DeFranco, LTCC Superintendent/President.

In response to concerns of the faculty member teaching the science class in which the comments were made, the school was able to move the class online June 14 so students could finish and take their finals.

"The South Lake Tahoe Police Department investigated and followed up with the student who made the statement and un-founded any actual threat," said SLTPD Lt. Shannon Laney. He said the student made comments during a test he was frustrated with.

The LTCC graduation ceremony will take place on June 28. As is the normal procedure since SnowGlobe started on the campus grounds, DeFranco will have off-duty police officers and/or deputies at graduation to watch over the crowd, along with the school's own security staff.

"The student's statement focused on that one class," said DeFranco. "We don't believe there is any credible threat at graduation." The alleged threat was aimed at just the one science class.

It is unclear at this time if the student in question has any mental health concerns, said DeFranco. He said the school has added mental health and counseling services this year for those that need them.

"I am seeing more students making these kinds of comments," said DeFranco of situations across the country. Many of the students who make threats are demonstrating mental health issues and instability. He said the one made at LTCC was unique because it was made in a "face to face classroom."

This story was updated with the SLTPD comment.