West Orange police were called to West Orange-Stark High School Wednesday morning after a 14-year-old said in class that he could shoot up the school, said Assistant Police Chief Jesse Romero.
It’s one of a handful of threats that local police have had to check out during the past week since the gun slaughter of students at a high school in Parkland, Florida.
Orange police on Tuesday went to Little Cypress Junior High and on Monday to West Orange-Stark Middle School. Officers investigated but did not find credible threats.
On Monday, the West Orange-Cove CISD’s Facebook page said several threats were made. “We want to let our school community know that we have investigated these allegations and believe that they are based upon rumor. These rumors have proven to be false.”
The district is working with law enforcement and said on the post any valid threat will be prosecuted.
Romero said West Orange police Monday investigated a possible threat to the high school posted on social media.
He said the incident Wednesday happened about 10 a.m. A teacher was quieting a class after a “ruckus” when a student said “he’d shoot up the school,” Romero said.
Police investigated the incident as a terroristic threat, but the verbal threat did not have the legal requirements to have a charge filed. Romero said a terroristic threat charge must show the person was capable of doing the act and had the means (a weapon) to do it at the time.
The school district says law enforcement was immediately called. The student was sent home and further disciplinary action is pending. Romero said the student was also reported to juvenile probation.
Romero thinks students are learning that making a threat is a way to get sent home and not have to go to classes. However, police will check out every threat that’s reported.
-Margaret Toal, KOGT-
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