LIBERTY TOWNSHIP, Ohio - A 15-year-old Lakota East High School student is behind bars after threatening to kill fellow students in a video he posted on social media, officials say.
The boy was charged last week with making terroristic threats, a third-degree felony, after a parent saw a Snapchat video and brought it to the attention of the Butler County Sheriff’s Office, according to Lt. Morgan Dallman.
“It showed him saying he was going to get a hit man and assassinate several kids. Three were named and he made reference to 10 other kids,” Dallman said. “He said he was going hire another kid to do it then put them in a blender.”
Dallman said the boy was apparently being “picked on” at school.
“Unfortunately his outlet was to put something like this on social media, which is a bad thing to do,” Dallman said. “It is a serious charge, but you can’t say stuff like that these days. We have to take threats seriously.”
Dallman said the school resource officer was able to identify the boy on the video. When officers talked with him, he admitted making the threats.
The boy appeared before a magistrate in Butler County Juvenile Court, who ordered that he remain housed in the county juvenile detention center until his next court appearance Oct. 16.
On Friday, Principal Suzanna Davis sent an announcement to school parents.
“I wanted to make you aware of a situation we faced last night involving a potentially threatening post on a popular social app. An East parent brought it to the attention of the Butler County Sheriff’s Office, showing them the Snapchat video that was sent last night and included questionable content,” wrote Davis.
“The police immediately investigated the suspected student. At this time, we can assure you there is no threat to the safety of East students. The student responsible for the video is facing charges from the Butler County Sheriff’s department and will face disciplinary action in accordance with the Lakota Student Code of Conduct,” she wrote.
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