'School shooting TikTok Challenge': 12 students arrested for Ethan Crumbley-like threats
More than a dozen school students have been arrested nationwide for making copycat threats in a 'school shooting TikTok challenge' following the tragic Oxford High School shooting by sophomore Ethan Crumbley that left four students dead and several others injured. The FBI had been investigating the TikTok challenge ever since it came to light.
Among a dozen arrests made, three of the suspects are 13-year-old males who shared threats on social media in Naugatuck, Connecticut, Palm Coast, Florida and Frederick, Maryland. A juvenile arrested in Watsonville, California for threats made on Instagram is believed to have done so as part of the trend. Further, as many as seven were arrested in Frisco, Texas, and one juvenile in South Carolina. Two students were arrested in Woonsocket, Rhode Island, for threats made on social media.
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Just a few days back, the disturbing trend that emerged on TikTok was viewed as a ‘national threat’ to schools across the United States on December 17, 2021. A number of schools across the nation were informed about a ‘national threat’ of gun violence on December 17. The unconfirmed rumor said that there will be a series of school shootings across the US on the mentioned date.
Inappropriate TikTok trends propagating gun violence are increasing at an alarming rate, especially after the tragic Oxford school shooting. In late November, school officials issued a warning over a new TikTok challenge called ‘Who Want Smoke’ after over 50 students were reportedly suspended for pretending to hold guns in school. In separate states, students in at least two schools participated in the online challenge inspired by Nardo Wick’s song “Who Want Smoke". The viral challenge, which was widely condemned, involved people holding up their phones to the camera pretending as if it were a gun. At West Creek High in Clarksville, more than 50 students were suspended for participating in the challenge.
There have also been incidents of students threatening to shoot up schools. In one of these incidents, two teens have been arrested and accused of being in the “planning stage” of attacking a Pennsylvania school. One of the teens, who had been banished from the school, had earlier threatened to “shoot and kill the school”. Logan Jack Pringle, 17, and Preston Robert Hinebaugh, 16, are now facing charges of conspiracy to commit terrorism and conspiracy to commit aggravated assault. Hinebaugh has also been charged with one count of conspiracy to commit criminal trespass and possession of a firearm by a minor.
A high schooler at South Carolina's Gilbert High School was arrested on Monday, December 6, for allegedly threatening to shoot up schools in 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.
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.