A 16-year-old Columbus North High School student was taken into custody the night before school started, accused of making a social media threat that included a photo with what appeared to be a weapon.
An unidentified student told Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp. officials the night of Aug. 7 about the threat, and information was given to the Columbus Police Department and emergency agencies, said Larry Perkinson, BCSC’s employee and student assistance coordinator.
Two detectives were sent to the student’s home and determined the weapon that appeared in the social media post was a pellet gun, said Lt. Matt Harris, Columbus Police Department spokesman. The officers also determined there were no other firearms in the home.
The male juvenile was apologetic and told officers he was only joking when he sent the online message, Harris said. The detectives confiscated the pellet gun and the juvenile was taken into custody and transported to the Bartholomew County Youth Services Center on a preliminary charge of intimidation.
For more on this story, see Friday’s Republic.
