JONESVILLE (WWJ) — A Hillsdale County teenager is in custody for allegedly making a threat to “shoot up” a classroom in his school, which prompted officials to close the district on Friday.
Officials with the Michigan State Police First District said early Friday morning that Jonesville Community Schools would be closed for the day after receiving threats. Jonesville is about five miles north of Hillsdale.
In a Friday afternoon update, MSP officials said a 14-year-old boy who attends Jonesville Middle School “made numerous specific threats to another student to ‘shoot up’ a classroom.”
MSP officials said the suspect made the threats on Thursday and said he was “specific with his threat, identifying the classroom, which hour he would carry out the attack, and what type of weapon he would use.”
The suspect said that he would carry out the attack using a weapon that he received as a Christmas present last year, MSP officials said.
The student who heard the suspect make the threat told his mother what he had heard and she then called 911 to report the threat.
MSP troopers and detectives from the Jackson Post went to the suspect’s home and spoke with him and his mother. Police also contacted the school district, who made the decision to close Friday.
Authorities conducted interviews with several other students and witnesses who also heard the alleged threat.
Detectives then determined there was enough information that this was “a valid threat,” MSP officials said.
MSP got a search warrant for the teen’s home and seized numerous firearms. Officials didn’t disclose what types of guns were found.
Investigators determined the suspect was acting alone and there is no further threat to the community. The investigation is ongoing.
The suspect, whose name has not been released, is being held at the Hillsdale Youth Home. Once the investigation is complete, MSP officials will forward the findings to the Hillsdale County Prosecutor’s Office to make a decision on charges.
“This incident clearly demonstrates the importance of coming forward and voicing concerns when you have knowledge of a possible threat to public safety,” MSP officials said in a press release. “If You See Something, Say Something.”