WESTERVILLE, Ohio — Westerville police arrested a 12-year-old Blendon Middle School student on Wednesday after text messages in a group chat showed him threatening to shoot teachers and students at the school.
According to Westerville police records obtained by 10TV, the student accused of making the threats was first suspended from the school on Monday after another student involved in the group chat came forward.
Records show the suspect threatened to bring a gun to school and shoot another student. School officials confronted the suspect, who claimed the message was a joke and that the gun he was referring was an airsoft gun.
No weapons were found during a search of the student's belongings. He was suspended that day.
The following day, a student involved in another group chat with the suspect came forward again, alleging the suspect had once again threatened the school.
Records detail the text messages from the student, including one that says, "I can be a school threat I can shoot up those school tomorrow if I wanted to I got 5 magazines I can shoot some teachers and some kids I will if I go to prison at least I did a good thing and got them out of my life. [sic]"
The student also showed school officials a picture of the suspect wearing "what appeared to be a camouflage tactical vest holding a semi automatic handgun," according to records.
In a letter addressed to families, Principal Kendall Harris said the school “took appropriate action” after learning about the threats.
According to the letter, the threats were made off campus and after school hours.
“It's always unsettling when you get any kind of notification about the topics that that is referring to but not unheard of,” said Justin Knight, who has two kids in the Westerville School District.
The school’s resource officer, Blendon administrative team, and the Westerville Division of Police worked together to investigate the matter, Harris said, and the student is now facing additional consequences.
"We were able to locate that gun and some others specifically. Can't talk about how many but there were multiple weapons," said Detective Lt. Justin Alloway with Westerville police.
“Any threat, real or perceived, must be taken seriously,” Harris said in the letter addressed to parents. “I’m asking you to please take a moment to reinforce to your child that there are appropriate and inappropriate ways to address any issues they may have.”
Westerville police said the student was taken into custody, but has since been released.
He's facing charges for inducing panic and aggravated menacing.