Buckeye teacher’s aide accused of posting threat to shoot up her elementary school

A Buckeye teacher’s aide was arrested Tuesday night for allegedly posting an online threat to shoot up her West Valley elementary school, authorities said.

Sharde Booker, 21, was booked into jail on a Class 3 felony charge of interfering with an educational institution and a misdemeanor charge of making threats, according to the Buckeye Police Department.

She was released without bond and ordered to appear in court again for a Sept. 17 status conference.

Booker works as a paraprofessional at Westpark Elementary School, police said. According to the arrest report, she has been working there for two years.

The Buckeye Elementary School District campus is located at 2700 S. 257th Drive in the city’s Westpark neighborhood.

Buckeye police acted after getting tip about Instagram post

The investigation that led to Booker’s arrest started earlier Tuesday when police received a tip about an Instagram post with a threat about shooting up the school.

The post was made just before 2 p.m. while Booker was at the school, according to court documents. It included a photo and a message about being spit on by someone and “shooting up the school,” according to the probable cause statement for Booker’s arrest.

Detectives identified Booker as the person behind the post and worked with school resource officers to find her at her Buckeye home and take her into custody.

“It’s not funny when a kid makes a post like that online, and it’s definitely not funny when a grown adult makes a post like that, especially adults tasked with the care of our students,” Carissa Planalp, a Buckeye police public information officer, told KTAR News 92.3 FM.

“So, this required urgent action from law enforcement to immediately get to the bottom of it and locate that person responsible and make an arrest.”

Police report says Buckeye teacher’s aide admitted to making post

After she was read her rights, Booker admitted to making the post, according to the arrest report.

“Booker also acknowledged that making a statement about shooting up a school was serious,” the arrest report says.

Police determined there was no ongoing threat to the campus after notifying school officials about the arrest.

The Buckeye Elementary School District said it was limited in the information it could provide about the incident because it involves an employee.

“The safety and well-being of our students and staff remain our highest priority. We appreciate the quick response of the Buckeye Police Department and our continued partnership with law enforcement in helping keep our schools safe,” the district said in a statement.

KTAR News 92.3 FM’s John Roller contributed to this report.

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