Mendham High Teen Apologizes for Shooting Threat, Has Charges Dropped

If a 15-year-old Mendham High School student stays out of trouble for the next year, he won’t face any legal repercussions for threatening to “shoot up” the school he attends.

According to nj.com, the student admitted in court Friday that he wrote a threat on the wall of a bathroom inside the school on Dec. 5. The threat led to enhanced security the following class day, Monday, Dec. 8, which was the same day the teen was arrested.

The boy was put in juvenile detention for 10 days after the incident, and given a 45-day school suspension. His return will be based on a psychiatric evaluation.

Judge Catherine Enright granted the boy a deferred disposition Friday, the report said, which allows charges to be dismissed if the defendant stays out of trouble. Under the ruling, the report said, the boy’s charges – making a false public alarm – will be dismissed if he meets probation requirements, attends counseling, and stays out of trouble for a year.

The threat said, “Prepare to die on Monday at 1 p.m. I am going to shoot up the school on Dec. 8. Shooting will happen at 1 p.m.,” the report said.

The teen apologized before the court and admitted making a “terrible mistake,” the report said.

School administrators have not commented further on the incident.