Gilbert High School student, 14, arrested for threatening to shoot up schools
GILBERT, ARIZONA: A high schooler at South Carolina's Gilbert High School was arrested on Monday, December 6, for allegedly threatening to shoot up schools in the Lexington county, authorities said. The male student, 14, who was arrested by South Carolina sheriff’s deputies, reportedly made a "threatening statement" while on the bus last week. A student who overheard him reported it to the authorities.
An incident report cited by the sheriff’s office claimed that the student, who overheard the conversation, said that the 14-year-old talked about wearing a trench coat the next day and shooting up an elementary school and a middle school. "The student who came forward should be commended for doing the right thing," Lexington County Sheriff Jay Koon said. "They heard something and reported all the details to someone who could immediately step and take action to make sure everyone stayed safe. While there was never any imminent danger to students, teachers or anyone else on a campus, this is another example of how we and Lexington School District share in the responsibility to protect those who learn and work at school." This incident come days after a 15-year-old student, Ethan Crumbley, shot four students dead and injured over seven people at a high school in Oxford, Michigan on Tuesday, November 30. Authorities have now found videos on the suspect's phone that show him talking about killing students, an Oakland sheriff’s official said.
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The student, who was charged and later released from custody, is due to appear in a Lexington Family Court at a later date. The Lexington School District said that a GHS administrator had notified law enforcement, which has now assured that there was no immediate danger to students or staff. The district has suspended the student, who faces expulsion.
"We are proud of the student who came forward to report the threat," the district said. "This situation is another example of how we must work together to keep each other safe. We take threats seriously and take swift and stern action against those making threats against our schools."
In a similar incident, a 13-year-old has been charged with a felony after he allegedly threatened a local middle school days after the deadly Oxford shooting. Police in Waterford Township reportedly found that there were threats made on social media that stated "Mason better watch out", referring to Mason Middle School. The post also had a picture of a firearm.
Police confirmed that a student of Mason Middle School made the threat. The 13-year-old reportedly admitted to posting the threat during an interview with investigators. The boy was charged with knowingly making a false report of terrorism, a felony that carries up to as many as 20 years in prison if convicted.
In the case of Crumbley, 15, he is facing 4 counts of first-degree murder, 7 counts of assault with intent to murder, 12 counts of possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony, and 1 count of terrorism causing death.