Skip to Content

Students making false threats facing severe consequences around Michigan

<i>WNEM</i><br/>More than 100 schools across the state were closed Friday because of threats of violence like the tragedy Tuesday at Oxford High School.
WNEM
WNEM
More than 100 schools across the state were closed Friday because of threats of violence like the tragedy Tuesday at Oxford High School.

By TREVOR SOCHOCKI, JAMES PAXSON

Click here for updates on this story

    Michigan (WNEM) — School districts across the state are dealing with copycat threats following Tuesday’s horrific shooting.

Even though the threats may not be credible, administrators and law enforcement are not taking the threats lightly.

More than 100 schools across the state were closed Friday because of threats of violence like the tragedy Tuesday at Oxford High School.

Bay City Public Schools announced their closure last night after a flood of messages they couldn’t keep up with.

“It’s so incredibly stupid and life ruining to do something like that. The reality is people who are responsible for this, while they may think it’s a silly game and it’s fun and hey it’s a great way to get school cancelled, there are severe criminal penalties that go along with this,” said Steve Bigelow, superintendent at Bay City Public Schools.

Penalties include up to 20 years in prison for a false threat of terrorism and using a computer to commit a crime. Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton has already charged a 17-year-old Flint Southwestern Classical Academy girl with both of those.

“And in this day and age, it’s just something you cannot do. There are ramifications for doing it, you will get locked up, you won’t go home anytime in the near future,” Leyton said.

Bay City Public Schools was not the only district closed Friday. It is one of more than two dozen in mid-Michigan that shut their doors out of an abundance of caution.”

All the schools in Tuscola County were closed Friday.

“Parents need to pay attention to obviously their kid’s social media. Monitor that. And impress upon them, again, from both perspectives, you know the consequences of falsely reporting and then the consequences of having information and not passing it along,” said Mark Reene, Tuscola County Prosecutor.

A girl at Standish-Sterling High School was arrested after posting a threat to social media, according to the Arenac County Sheriff’s Department.

She is also charged with terrorism.

Please note: This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

Article Topic Follows: CNN - Regional

Jump to comments ↓

CNN Newsource

BE PART OF THE CONVERSATION

ABC 17 News is committed to providing a forum for civil and constructive conversation.

Please keep your comments respectful and relevant. You can review our Community Guidelines by clicking here

If you would like to share a story idea, please submit it here.

Skip to content