ST. LOUIS — A former Ritenour High School student, armed with a loaded handgun, was arrested Tuesday afternoon after a threat was posted on social media, according to police.

Officers say the juvenile suspect was located in a vehicle a few blocks from the school, ran from police and ditched his firearm. 

No shots were fired, and no injuries were reported. As a precaution, Ritenour High and Husky Academy, the teen's current school, took measures to keep people safe during the apprehension of the suspect.

Police say the suspect was caught 24 minutes after the threat was recieved.

District officials learned about the threat after students saw it on social media. Ritenour High School was tagged in the post, according to the district.

The students notified administrators and sent in a submission through Missouri Highway Patrol’s Courage to Report Tipline.

Superintendent Chris Kilbride says nearby residents are fed up with these incidents and is encouraging more people to use the tipline. 

"Working with the community and the way this community has shifted, moving away from boosting these threats on social media and then instead getting to points where we can do something about it. These various tip lines. Our community has shifted because our community is tired," said Kilbride.

Police and administrators were able to immediately identify the suspect.

Ritenour High School received an online threat last week and used a virtual learning or an alternative method of instruction (AMI) day out of precaution.

Officials said Tuesday’s threat was not related to last week’s threat.

Counseling is available to students in the district.

The investigation is ongoing by police.

Additionally, this threat is not related to the bomb threat received by Ladue Horton Watkins High School. The school canceled classes Tuesday out of precaution.