WHITEHOUSE, Ohio — A student has been released to his parents and is expected to be charged after Anthony Wayne Local Schools received a threat via social media Monday morning to its high school.
District officials called Whitehouse police and they investigated, removing a male student was removed from the school and taking him into custody. The boy then was released to his parents.
Inducing panic charges are to filed through Lucas County Juvenile Court. The boy's residence was searched and a BB gun was taken as evidence, police said. Two other students that were associated with the alleged threat were searched, interviewed and released without charges.
The district said that the incident was resolved Monday morning, though some parents chose to pick up their children from school.
A letter from Anthony Wayne Local Schools early Monday read:
At approximately 9:00 this morning, it was reported that a social media post that was created by a student attending Anthony Wayne High School in regards to a potential threat to student safety was circulating amongst students. Upon the post being reported the high school administration and Whitehouse Police began investigating the situation. The student that made the post was immediately taken to the office, questioned, and removed from school. At this time, we feel that the incident is resolved and all students and staff are safe.
School safety is a top priority at Anthony Wayne Local Schools. Please know that District personnel take student safety very seriously and are available to listen to concerns that you or your child may have. Thank you!
Kevin Pfefferley, Principal
Anthony Wayne High School
The district issued another letter on Monday afternoon addressing safety concerns raised by parents and students after the district kept students in class and did not go on lockdown protocol. That letter said the following:
I want to update the letter sent to parents today concerning a social media post deemed a threat to the safety of students and staff. We have received questions and concerns from parents and students about the specific details in regards to this student issue. I am happy to report that the student accused of the social media post was immediately identified and it was determined that the individual did not have or did not have access to any type of weapon and was removed from the building quickly. We feel it is necessary to share that the post that included the student holding a gun wasn't a social media post taken at the school. That picture was from a post that was found on social media and added to the social media post that stated the threat. Due to there not being a weapon at school and the student being contained, the building did not need to follow its lock-down procedures. This work was completed by the high school administration and the Whitehouse Police Department.
Please know that in any situation, the safety of the students and staff is the top priority. If the situation involves student safety, the administration will send out a communication. In many cases, parents have already heard about the situation from their children. The administration works quickly to communicate but must take enough time to ensure that the shared information is communicated clearly and accurately. If you have questions or concerns at any time, but especially in situations like this one, please feel free to call the school. Also, if your student(s) need additional support while at school related to this concern, or other concerns, counselors are available to meet with them. Thank you.
Kevin Pfefferle, Principal
Anthony Wayne High School
AW Superintendent Jim Fritz further clarified about the social media post and photos:
This social media post contained a photo of a basement ceiling and a generalized threat that was posted this morning to Snapchat. The student was immediately brought to the office by the administration and Student Resource Officer. According to the student, the post was made as a result of disagreements with his friends.
While the student was in the office being questioned, a second social media post was shared with the high school administration that was of the student holding a gun while standing in front of a mirror with a statement about hunting. This social media post was made over the weekend. There was never a gun in the students' possession today nor on school property.