Hopewell Twp. Police Charge 2 Juveniles With Making Threats Against High School
HOPEWELL TOWNSHIP (KDKA) -- The Hopewell Township Police Department says they have charged two teenagers in separate, alleged threats against the high school.
Hopewell police say the threats were made by a ninth and 10th grade student.
According to police, one of the teens is facing a terroristic threat charge in connection with a posting to Facebook. Investigators say the post "insinuated a possible shooting to occur in the school."
Hopewell Township Police Chief Gary Tranelli says a teacher noticed the Facebook posting and reported it immediately.
"Verbatim, it was, "High school, bang, bang;' so it referred to a shooting," said Chief Tranelli. "No specific time, but serious enough in light of this past weekend."
In the other incident, police say writing was discovered in the stall of a boy's restroom "about bringing a 9mm handgun to school for a shooting at 9:15 a.m. on Friday."
"It was to the effect that, 'Bring a 9mm to school Friday,' and a specific time," Chief Tranelli said
That juvenile is facing charges of terroristic threats and threats to use weapons of mass destruction.
The chief credits students, faculty and staff for leading police to the teenage suspects. Neither of the boys could explain why.
"No explanation," Chief Tranelli said. "You know, do I feel personally in either case that each child was willing to carry that out, I'd say no. Why they did it, they don't really have an explanation."
Both of the teens are also facing disciplinary action from the Hopewell Area School District. They were released into the custody of their parents.
Police say they have assigned officers to patrol the school buildings in the district as a precaution.
RELATED LINKS:
More Hopewell Township News
More Beaver County News
