Social Media School Threat Leads To Three Guns, Two Arrests In Park Ridge

PARK RIDGE, IL — Two juveniles were arrested and charged with felonies Monday in connection with social media threats to Maine South High School. An anonymous tip came in around 6:30 a.m. about two juveniles who had recently posted threatening messages on social media, featuring images of the two holding a firearm, according to an announcement from Park Ridge police.

The online threats also included references to the pair using the gun during summer classes at Maine South High School Monday, police said. Park Ridge police said they quickly identified both suspects as a 12-year-old and a 15-year-old and brought them into the station for questioning before school was scheduled to start.

Officers also found three firearms at the home of the 12-year-old. At least one of those three guns was confirmed to have been used in the threatening posts, police said.

Both juveniles have been charged with one count of unlawful use of a weapon and one count of disorderly conduct, and both charges are felonies. Police said detectives are not investigating any additional suspects, as detectives believe the two people in custody are the only two involved in the incident.

The two boys were taken to the Cook County Juvenile Detention Center ahead of a custody hearing.

Top photo via Patch file