Kennewick, WA. — Kennewick Police arrested an 18-year-old suspect after a juvenile reported receiving a violent and coercive message on social media on December 1, 2025. According to investigators, the unknown sender demanded the juvenile provide a video and threatened to kill both the victim and the victim’s family if the demand was not met. Police said the message also included details indicating the suspect had personal knowledge of the juvenile.
Given the severity of the threat, detectives initiated an exigent investigation. By the afternoon of December 2, officers identified the suspect as 18-year-old Yonathan Solano-Abadillo, a student at Kennewick High School. With the assistance of the school’s resource officer, police took Solano-Abadillo into custody on campus without incident.
He was booked into the Benton County Jail on charges of Extortion in the First Degree and Communication with a Minor for Immoral Purposes.
The Kennewick Police Department thanked the Kennewick School District for its rapid cooperation, emphasizing that student safety remains a shared priority between law enforcement and schools.
Officials also urged families to speak with children about online safety and to report any concerning behavior immediately. “All threats involving students—whether on campus, off campus, or online—are taken seriously and carry real consequences,” the department said.
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