News Releases

Juveniles Arrested for Clown Related Threats

For Immediate Release: Thursday, October 6, 2016

Detectives from the 4th District Investigative Section have been investigating a series of social media posts threatening students who attend Rosa Parks Middle School.  On Wednesday, October 5, four 13-year-old males were charged as juveniles with offenses relating to the threat of mass violence.

On Monday, October 3, officers from the 4th District were notified by victims of the threats and administrators of Rosa Parks Middle School that general threats had been made via social media to multiple students who attend that school.  Following a trend on social media, the account name used the word "clown" as part of the identifier and photographs of clowns were attached to the posts.  Investigators learned that the poster had used Instagram to state that they were coming to the school on Wednesday and "to be ready."  The messages also contained photographs of shovels and axes.  The posts also named Argyle and Farquhar middle schools, but no specific students from those schools were mentioned.

In response to those posts, one of the named students had asked the poster what they planned to do to the named students when they arrived to the school.  The response was "kill them."

Detectives used details contained in the postings and information provided to them by the victims, the victims' parents, and school administrators  to identify the suspects.  On Wednesday, October 5, the four 13-year-old males were taken into custody.  After being charged with making threats of mass violence, they were returned to the care and custody of their parents.  This case has been referred to the Department of Juvenile Services for adjudication.

PRS

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Release ID: 16-268
Media Contact: mcpnews 
Categories: uncategorized