New Canaan HS Student Arrested After Snapchat Threat: Police

NEW CANAAN, CT — A 17-year-old New Canaan High School student has been arrested on a charge of breach of peace after the student allegedly created a threatening image and message and recently posted it on the Snapchat social media site, according to New Canaan police.

New Canaan authorities were alerted to the post - in which "a reported New Canaan High School student was seen holding what appeared to be a handgun" - on Jan. 26 by Wilton police.

An unnamed group of people had circulated the photo, which carried the caption "Don’t come to school tm."

"New Canaan Police immediately identified the two students involved and determined the gun in the photograph was a BB-gun, which was later seized," wrote Lt. Jason Ferraro in a statement. "A thorough investigation determined that there was never a viable threat to anyone’s safety."

The department's Juvenile Division determined the student depicted in the photo "was unaware the picture had been taken," and the other student, the 17-year-old New Canaan resident, had been "responsible for creating and posting the image."

That student was the one charged with breach of peace and referred to Juvenile Court. Because of the suspect's age, the department did not release the juvenile's identity.

"The New Canaan Police Department takes all threats of school violence, real or perceived, seriously and exercises a zero tolerance for those who recklessly make such threats," said Ferraro, adding that the department thanks the Wilton Police Department "for their swift assistance in this matter."

Image via Shutterstock

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