Richards Student Charged With Texting Threats To School

OAK LAWN, IL — A 16-year-old Richards High School student was taken into custody on Friday, purportedly for texting threats to the school and principal, Oak Lawn police said in a news release.

The boy will be petitioned to juvenile court on two counts of disorderly conduct for transmitting a bomb threat against the school and a threat to shoot the principal.

“Our patrol division and detectives continue to take this conduct and all threats against our schools seriously,” Oak Lawn police said in a written statement. “Our investigators are diligently working in partnership with school officials and the Chicago Field Office of the FBI to identify and bring charges against all individuals involved with making the threats.”

Earlier this month, students at Oak Lawn schools started receiving text messages of bombs being placed in the school buildings or threats of shooting students and staff. The threatening text messages continued for about a week.

Unspecified charges were announced for three students — one from Oak Lawn Community High School and two from Oak Lawn-Hometown Middle School — who allegedly told police they texted the bomb and shooting threats as a prank.

Similar texts were sent to students at Stagg High School in Palos Hills, and Shepard High School in Palos Heights. No charges have been announced by police in those communities, and it is not known if those threats are connected to the Richards student or the Oak Lawn students.

Richards High School has scheduled a community meeting for parents in the high school’s performing arts center, entrance S-15, 10601 S. Central Ave., from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 23. Other community members are welcome to attend, but the meeting will be Richards-focused.