For Immediate Release

Monday, Feb. 11, 2019

Media Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

Methuen Police Arrest Boy, 12, After School Threat

METHUEN — Chief Joseph Solomon, Methuen Public Schools Superintendent Brandi Kwong and Methuen Mayor James P. Jajuga report that a student at the Tenney Grammar School has been arrested and charged with making a threat against the school and one of its employees.

A JUVENILE BOY, AGE 12, OF METHUEN has been arrested and charged with:

• Making Threats to a School (269/14)
• Threatening to Commit Murder (275/2)

On Monday, Feb. 11, the principal of the Tenney School informed the Methuen Police Department School Resource Officer of a threat posted as a reply to a post on the school’s official Instagram social media account.

The post threatened to “shoot up” the school and also referenced a specific employee at the school as a target.

Police were able to track down the owner of the account.

The juvenile suspect was arrested and booked before being released into the custody of his mother. He will be arraigned tomorrow in Lawrence Juvenile Court.

Methuen K-9 Rumi and Officer Michael Havey Jr. were among those officers who conducted a search of the juvenile’s home on Monday. No weapons were found.

Chief Solomon, Mayor Jajuga and Superintendent Kwong wish to praise the many students and parents who saw something and said something.

“Our community is the eyes and ears of law enforcement, and the partnerships developed between our police officers and community members are strong, as indicated by the actions tonight that brought a swift and safe end to this disturbing incident,” Mayor Jajuga said.

Superintendent Kwong said, “We are deeply grateful for the students and parents who came forward with the information and contacted school administration as we take these matters very seriously. Our school staff in conjunction with the Methuen Police Department reacted swiftly to the situation for the safety of our staff and students.”

These are allegations. All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty.

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