school threat

West Newbury Juvenile Arrested, Charged with Making Threats against Pentucket Regional High School via Social Media

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2019

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 781-752-9877

Email: [email protected]

West Newbury Juvenile Arrested, Charged with Making Threats against Pentucket Regional High School via Social Media

WEST NEWBURY — West Newbury Police Chief Jeffrey Durand, Merrimac Police Chief Eric M. Shears and Pentucket Regional School District Superintendent Justin Bartholomew report that, after a thorough investigation overnight into reports of threatening social media posts made in the past 24 hours, a suspect has been arrested and now faces a felony charge.

A JUVENILE MALE, AGE 15, OF WEST NEWBURY has been arrested and charged with Threat of Dangerous Items to Disrupt a School, Public Building, or Transport. (Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 269, § 14, a felony)

Rumors started to circulate this week that this juvenile had made threats over social media, however no direct report was made, and no direct evidence of a threatening social media post was found by the West Newbury Police Department.

However, last evening, numerous students and school families in Merrimac and West Newbury came forward with information about new posts, allegedly made by the suspect, in which he makes threats to commit a violent act at the school. The suspect is a sophomore at Pentucket Regional High School. The police departments worked together throughout the night and, after an investigation and with the assistance of the Essex District Attorney’s Office, West Newbury Police today received and executed an arrest warrant.

The school district has worked cooperatively with the police departments throughout this incident. The school district has taken its own action against the suspect, consistent with its code of student conduct.

The police chiefs and Superintendent Bartholomew offer their praise for those who brought forward information leading to this arrest.

“Our community is our eyes and ears, and this case exemplifies the principle of ‘if you see something, say something,'” Chief Durand said. “In this situation, members our community were not willing to tolerate threats against their high school, and they came forward to police.”

No weapons were found during the arrest of the suspect. Police do not believe there is any active danger to the school community, however out of an abundance of caution, the West Newbury Police will have an increased police presence at the high school in on Wednesday. Wednesday is the first day of school for students since Nov. 8.

Anyone with further information should contact the West Newbury Police Department at 978-363-1212. Any family with questions or concerns may contact the police department or Superintendent Bartholomew’s office at 978-363-2280.

The suspect will face arraignment in Newburyport Juvenile Court.

Pentucket schools will operate on their normal schedules on Wednesday.

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

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Whittier Working with Haverhill Police after Student Receives Threatening Snapchat Message

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Whittier Tech
Maureen Lynch, Superintendent
115 Amesbury Line Road
Haverhill, MA 01830

For Immediate Release

Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2019

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

Whittier Working with Haverhill Police after Student Receives Threatening Snapchat Message

HAVERHILL — Superintendent Maureen Lynch reports that Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School administrators are working with the Haverhill Police Department after a student received a threatening message via Snapchat in which an anonymous person threatening to commit a violent act at the school on Saturday.

There are no activities scheduled at Whittier today, however there will be an increased police presence nonetheless, out of an abundance of caution.

At 9 a.m. Saturday a student reported to Haverhill Police that they had received a threatening message via the Snapchat social media service.  In the message, the user threatened to “shoot up” the student’s school, although the user never mentioned Whittier by name.

Superintendent Lynch praised the student for coming forward to report this threat.

“We take all threats seriously, and in this increasingly uncertain world, we are fortunate to have such a good relationship with our partners in the Haverhill Police Department,” Superintendent Lynch said. “While this is a nonspecific and anonymous threat, we will follow our established protocols to ensure safety on our campus.”

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East Bridgewater Police Respond to School Threat

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Thursday, Nov. 15, 2018

For Immediate Release

Media Contact: Benjamin Paulin
Phone: 781-742-3299
Email: [email protected]

East Bridgewater Police Respond to School Threat

EAST BRIDGEWATER — Chief Scott Allen and Superintendent Elizabeth Legault report that East Bridgewater schools were placed in a lock down Thursday morning due to a threat that was made through a smartphone application.

There is currently no immediate threat to the schools and police cleared the scene as of 10:15 a.m.

At approximately 7:15 a.m., East Bridgewater Police responded to East Bridgewater Junior/Senior High School, 143 Plymouth St., after being notified of a threat that was made toward the school via the anonymous tip messaging app StopIt. The StopIt app allows people to anonymously send messages which get sent to school administrators.

The threat toward the school made reference to the 1999 Columbine High School shooting.

Upon learning of the message, school officials immediately notified police and the junior/senior high school was placed into lock down mode. Other schools in town had  their students shelter in place out of an abundance of caution.

A message was sent by school officials to parents notifying them of the situation.

East Bridgewater Police thoroughly searched each floor of the junior/senior high school, including all lockers, classrooms and students’ backpacks and personal belongings. Through the subsequent investigation it was determined that the threat was not credible.

“We searched throughout the school and did not locate anything that would verify that the threat was credible,” Chief Allen said. “We are confident that there is no danger to the school community, students, faculty or staff.”

The school district is investigating the incident with support from East Bridgewater Police.

“The district takes all threats seriously and will take all precautionary and necessary measures to contain the possibility of a threat and to keep all students, staff, and personnel safe,” Superintendent Legault said.

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Andover High Student Arrested After Threat Appears Online

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ANDOVER PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Sheldon Berman, Superintendent
36R Bartlet St.
Andover, MA 01810

For Immediate Release

Monday, March 26, 2018

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

Andover High Student Arrested After Threat Appears Online

Photo of Firearms Was Downloaded from Internet by Suspect

Courtesy of Andover Police
Courtesy of Andover Police

ANDOVER — Town Manager Andrew Flanagan, Superintendent of Schools Sheldon Berman, and Andover High School Principal Philip Conrad report that an Andover High School student has been arrested by Andover Police as authorities investigate a threatening post appeared on Snapchat.

At 7 p.m. Monday, parents reported to the Andover Police Department and Andover High School officials that someone posted a photo of assault rifles online with a message warning students not to come to school tomorrow.  An investigation followed. The alleged origin of the social media posts was traced to an Andover High School junior, and police went to his home to question him. He has been arrested and is in custody at this hour as the suspect behind the posting.

The investigation also determined that the photo of assault rifles posted to Snapchat was downloaded from the Internet and not an actual photo taken by the suspect. Police reported that no firearms were found at the residence.

Disciplinary procedures are being followed by school officials, and the student has been suspended on an emergency basis. 

There is no danger at this time to the school or greater community. School will go on as scheduled tomorrow. Out of an abundance of caution, extra officers will be assigned, and families may notice the increased police presence.

“While we are confident that there is no danger, I am proud that the procedures we have in place in the event of a threat were followed, and I am pleased with the level of teamwork and constant communication among officials as this unfolded over the past few hours,” Superintendent Berman said. “The Andover Police Department is to be commended for investigating this threat with great professionalism and providing a resolution within two hours of the initial report.

More information will be released by the town, schools, and Andover Police Department as it becomes available. 

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