A Central Saanich high school student was arrested Monday after allegedly posting a threatening photo to social media, according to police.
Police say they were alerted to a video posted to Instagram of a Stelly's Secondary student firing a gun into a small target with the caption "practicing for school."
"What I've been told is that it is a teenager with a long gun in a wooded area who seemed to discharge the firearm twice," said Sgt. Andy Duke. Police initially said the student was seen firing into a snowbank, but later issued a correction saying it was a small target.
The male student was tracked down and arrested without incident Monday.
Investigators say they're recommending charges of uttering threats and mischief.
Police are using the incident to encourage parents to speak with their kids about how and how not to use social media.
"I think you could say some things are done as an in-joke among friends, but suddenly it reaches an audience that isn't aware of that," said Duke. "I'm not saying that's the case here, but certainly we've seen, I think, a little bit of a spike in those files here in the last couple of weeks."
The teen has since been released from custody on a promise to appear in court with several conditions.
