Teen Posted Twitter Threat To Get Ot of School: Plainfield Cops

PLAINFIELD, IL — A student was in custody and school was open as usual after a threat on violence on Twitter late Wednesday. Plainfield police said they learned of the threat at around 9:30 p.m., saying the school shooting threat was posted first to Twitter and then circulated on Snapchat. Officers were able to track down the owner of the Twitter account, and police said the juvenile "admitted to posting the threat in an effort to avoid going to school."

At around 10 p.m. Wednesday, Plainfield Central parents received an automated call reporting "another suggested threat against Plainfield Central posted on social media." By early Thursday, Plainfield police had investigated the threat "and determined early this morning that the threat is not credible," the district said in another alert. A current student who posted the threat was in custody, according to police and the district.

The teen did not possess any weapons and didn't take any further steps to carry out the threat, according to police. The student, charged with four felony counts of disorderly conduct, was taken to the River Valley Juvenile Justice Center to await a custody hearing.

On Facebook, parents posted screenshots of a Twitter account with the username "@pchswillalldie." Late Wednesday, the account posted a tweet — which has since been deleted — saying, "Tired of being unnoticed!! November 9th I'm going to kill everyone there!!"

In an automated call to parents, Director of Community Relations Tom Hernandez said the student who posted the threat would not be in school Thursday "and appropriate disciplinary action will be taken."

Authorities said a visible police presence was planned for Thursday at the campus, and that authorities remained in constant communication with District 202 officials throughout the investigation.

"We would like to thank the individuals who relayed this threat to the police and school officials," Plainfield police said in a news release late Thursday morning. "This is an excellent example of the 'If you see something, say something' motto that helps law enforcement investigate and prevent violence in our schools and communities."

The online threat is only the latest at area high schools this school year. Last week, two people were detained for a similar threat at Joliet Central High School, accused of plotting a false report that put the campus on lockdown. In that incident, police said two people made phony 911 calls reporting a person with a gun at the school in what they called a well-planned hoax.

Social media rumors of threats at Plainfield schools have swirled this year as well.

On the same day as the Joliet Central hoax, rumors of shots fired at Plainfield Central were unfounded, police and district officials said. "There were no shots fired, and the school was never put into lockdown," the district said in a message to parents. "The students and staff at Plainfield Central are safe and continuing on with a normal day."

A day earlier, on Halloween, Joliet police beefed up their presence at Plainfield South High School after a rumor that someone dressed as the Joker would shoot up the school — another unfounded rumor, according to officials.

Another unfounded social media rumor of violence was reported in early September at Plainfield Central, and in early October, an out-of-state social media threat prompted fears at Plainfield North.

Image via Patch file