XENIA — UPDATE @11:50 p.m. 2/5/19
The 16-year-old Xenia High School student accused of threatening to bring a gun to school on Monday appeared in juvenile court today.
The teen is charged with inducing panic and making false alarms, both misdemeanors, and a felony count of inducing panic.
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The judge entered a “denial plea” on the teen’s behalf and ordered him to stay in juvenile detention. While in custody, the judge also ordered the teen have a mental health evaluation. He’s facing up to five years behind bars if convicted because of the felony charge.
UPDATE @ 12:51 p.m. 2/4/19
A 16-year-old Xenia High School student accused of threatening to bring a gun to school has been charged with inducing panic, according to police.
The teen is being held in the Greene County Juvenile Detention Center.
He was taken into custody in the Arrowhead subdivision without incident, according to police.
INITIAL REPORT:
A student accused of making a threat on social media that prompted a police investigation at Xenia High School surrendered and was taken into custody, according to police.
PHOTOS: Scene from Xenia High School where threat was reported
School district officials were notified around 7 a.m. Monday about a credible threat that a student was going to bring a gun to the school, Xenia police Capt. Alonzo Wilson said.
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“We were able to do a lockdown of the students who were already at school and were able to clear the school to make sure that our suspect was not on the premises,” Wilson said.
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While police investigated the threat, both the high school and Warner Middle School were placed on lockdown, according to the school district. The district later cancelled classes at all schools, including elementary schools and preschools.
“For today, Feb. 4, we have cancelled all high school classes,” said Superintendent Gabriel Lofton. “We have closed all elementary schools and the preschool. Warner is still in session and students are safe. Parents are more than welcome to pick up their children if desired.”
While the threat was credible, investigators don’t believe that the student made it to school at this point.
“The school was never actually in any danger,” Wilson said. “We just took it as a precaution, working with the emergency plan the school has.”
Students who were on the way to the high school were bused to a different location nearby while police conducted the investigation at the school and were later allowed to go home.
The juvenile was taken into custody by multiple law enforcement units in the area of Buckskin Trail and Arrowhead Trail. Police said the student turned himself in and did not have a weapon with him when he was taken into custody.
Police said charges in the incident are still pending a full investigation.
“Students need to realize the statements they make on social media are real,” Wilson said. “If they make threats, if they're seeking attention, and want to make a threat on social media, we take that seriously.”
“My message would be to a student who feels that they need to make those types of threats is to talk to their parents or school staff about why they're upset and handle it that way instead of making threats,” Wilson said.