WARREN (WWJ) – A 13-year-old Warren boy has been charged with a felony and denied bond after allegedly making threats to shoot up three Metro Detroit schools on Wednesday.
The threats, made via Twitter Wednesday morning, caused officials to close Cousino High School and Carter Middle School in Warren, as well as Community High School in Sterling Heights.
Officials say the teen, a student at Carter, posted around 12:30 a.m. that he was going to “shoot up” Cousino High School at 8 a.m.
Less than 12 hours after the initial post was made, the Warren Police Department’s Special Victims Unit had identified a juvenile suspect involved.
He was arrested at his home in Warren without incident. Detectives executed a search warrant at the juvenile’s home and seized several electronic communication devices, but did not find any guns.
Officials say the detectives analyzed the digital evidence and linked the teen, whose name has not been released, to the social media threats.
The Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office on Thursday charged the suspect with false report or threat of terrorism – a 20-year felony.
He was denied bond and was remanded to custody in the Macomb County Youth Home, pending his next court date.
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“This case should be a lesson to everybody that social media threats are taken seriously by the Police Department as well as the Prosecutor’s Office,” Warren Police Commissioner Bill Dwyer said. “I am happy that the prosecutor’s office issued a serious charge in this matter. The Warren Police Department is committed to investigating all social media threats of violence against schools.”
Dwyer called the case “a perfect example of investigators quickly gathering information, identifying a suspect, and making sure justice is served.”
“No matter the age of the suspect, the Warren Police Department will continue to seek the highest charges possible against suspects who make social media threats of violence towards schools,” he said.
WWJ's Charlie Langton reported Wednesday he talked to the suspect's mom, who said "he is a good kid," that he didn't do it and they expect to "challenge this."
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