CINCINNATI — Cincinnati police have arrested six people, all under the age of 18, in connection to threats made towards multiple schools this week.
Several local districts — including Cincinnati Public Schools, Northwest Local Schools and Sycamore Community Schools — had heightened security Thursday to "provide additional support" after threats were made on social media.
One district, Mt. Healthy City Schools, canceled all classes "out of an abundance of caution."
RELATED | Heightened security at multiple school districts after social media threat
All districts said the threats were reported to police and were being investigated. In a release on Friday, CPD said its investigation team charged the following people with inducing panic and making false alarms:
- A 16-year-old boy in connection to a threat against Oyler School;
- A 15-year-old boy in connection to a threat against DePaul Cristo Rey High School;
- A 14-year-old girl in connection to a threat against Taft Information Technology High School and;
- Three 13-year-old boys in connection to a threat against Roberts Academy.
Anisah Abdullah, a Taft High School parent, said her son was a little nervous after hearing about the threat.
"I was more on the safer side, like I'm gonna let you stay home with me today just in case something really happens," she said.
Many of the threats came after Wednesday's tragic school shooting in Georgia that killed two students and two teachers, leaving many already on edge.
“Unfortunately, that happened, and the first thing that goes through your head is, 'Is there gonna be a copycat the next day or are we gonna get some type of threat?'" Tom Hurst, a school resource officer at Wilson Middle School, said in an interview with WCPO on Thursday.
Police asked the community to have "meaningful conversations" about the real-world consequences people's words on social media may have.
"As a reminder to these select students: making a threat of violence against a school is a crime," police said in the release. "Regardless of whether an individual intends to commit the act, they can be arrested and charged. This behavior will not be tolerated in our community."
We reached out to CPS to ask for their response to the arrests of several students. The distirct replied with the following statement:
"Cincinnati Public Schools received multiple social media threats this week. Real or false threats spread fear among school communities, disrupt learning environments and result in the same severe consequences. CPS takes all threats seriously, implements immediate security protocols and reports every incident to the Cincinnati Police Department for investigation and continued support. Several students are facing discipline per CPS' Code of Conduct, including suspension and expulsion, and are facing criminal charges."
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