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Eighth-grader accused of making threats

Communications via Snapchat; boy created ‘hit list’ on cell phone

A Marietta Middle School student remains in custody after allegedly making threats to another student and creating a “HIT LIST” on his cell phone.

The eighth-grader was arrested Saturday on two charges of aggravated menacing and will remain in custody until at least June 21, following a court hearing on Monday.

According to the Marietta Police Department, the 14-year-old boy made threats to another student via Snapchat, saying he would “shoot up the school” and “bomb the school” last week. The “HIT LIST” later found on his phone had names of students and staff.

The list ends with “If I’m not dead by then shoot up the office.” Also found on the phone were photos of Google searches about how to shoot up a school.

The threats began May 15 via Snapchat to another student. The girl who received the messages told a teacher about the threat the next day. That student then allegedly received a message in retaliation from the boy that read “Say your goodbyes” and was sent by the boy during school. When the girl turned to look at him after receiving the

message, the boy reportedly made his hand into a gun shape and “fired” it at her. School administrators met with the boy about the messages that day and he remained in school that day and on Wednesday.

School resource officer Pat Gragan with the Marietta Police Department met with the student on Wednesday and he admitted to sending the messages as a joke, according to a police report. The report says Gragan did not feel the threats were credible and that the boy did not intend to carry them out. Also on Wednesday, the boy signed permission to allow the files on his phone to be searched.

By Thursday, the student making threats was suspended from school. Marietta City Schools Superintendent Will Hampton said the boy is suspended for the remainder of the school year and faces expulsion leading into next year.

“I’m very pleased with how quickly everyone worked to put everything together,” said Hampton. “We will go through the process of suspension now and then eventually have a hearing for the expulsion.”

The student’s phone was searched on Thursday and Friday. Hampton said that while verbal threats are sometimes handled by school officials, threats made online require the help of law enforcement.

“When it’s social media, we have to work with law enforcement and be mindful of what they do,” he said.

Hampton said he was informed of the incident Friday evening and took immediate action.

“We take all threats seriously,” he said. “Even when emotional kids say things that they don’t mean, we pursue it as serious.”

On Saturday evening, Det. A.J. Linscott of the Marietta Police Department arrested the 14-year-old boy for two counts of aggravated menacing.

Police and Hampton declined to say how many names were included on the student’s target list. Hampton also declined to comment on the student’s previous behavior record.

“We have been in touch with school officials throughout the process,” said Marietta Police Chief Rodney Hupp. “We ran his phone on Friday and the arrest was made Saturday.”

The Marietta Police Department has not executed a search warrant to search the boy’s home.

“We don’t have anything at this point we believe we would find,” said Marietta Police Capt. Aaron Nedeff of the Marietta Police Department. “To search his home, we’d have to believe we’d find additional evidence.” Nedeff said he doesn’t believe the boy had access to guns. According to the Washington County Juvenile Court, the defendant had a hearing on Monday afternoon to decide whether he would remain in custody. It was decided he will remain in custody at the Washington County Juvenile Center until his initial hearing on June 21.

At a glance

≤ A 14-year-old boy is in custody at the Washington County Juvenile Center after being charged Saturday with aggravated menacing.

≤ He allegedly made threats via Snapchat to another student at Marietta Middle School last week about shooting up his school.

≤ After further investigation, a “HIT LIST” was found on his phone with names of students and staff.

≤ He had a hearing in Washington County Juvenile Court on Monday afternoon.

≤ He remains in custody until his initial hearing on June 21.

Source: Marietta Police Department, Washington County Juvenile Court.

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