Bensalem Student Will Be Charged With Gun Photo Threat: Police

Updated: 3:27 p.m.

BENSALEM TOWNSHIP, PA —The Bensalem Police Department has identified the student who made a threat with a picture of a gun at Bensalem High School Tuesday morning.

A coordinated investigation between the Bensalem Township School District and Bensalem Township Police has identified the student who "Air Dropped" the threatening photograph to other students.

Bensalem Police said the student will be disciplined by the school district and will be charged criminally.

Police are also asking parents to have a serious discussion with their children about the impact this type of behavior can have at school and about the consequences of making bad decisions as it relates to threats of school violence.

"The Bensalem Township Police Department and the Bensalem Township School District have the safety of our children as our highest priority," police said. "We will continue to be diligent in our efforts to keep all of the children who attend Bensalem schools safe.

Police said that the school district conducted a routine drill at the high school Tuesday. During the drill, students were moved to the stadium per normal protocols.

While students were staged at the stadium, an unknown student “Air Dropped” a photograph of a gun in a backpack to several other students.

One of the students reported the photograph to staff who then alerted the high school's resource officer, Bensalem Police said.

That officer requested additional police assistance at the stadium and advised school officials.

All students were held at the stadium until the general area where the “Air Dropped” photograph was identified.

Some students were allowed to return to class while students located in the designated area had their backpacks searched by school district personnel and police.

Once the searches were complete, students were allowed to re-enter the school to continue classes. The searches were done out of an abundance of caution and all students were fully cooperative.

No weapons were located during the search of the students and the stadium.

Bensalem Police were quickly able to determine that the photograph of a gun in a backpack, was a “stock” photograph that was readily available for download on the internet.

All of the measures taken by school officials and police were in the best interests and safety of the students and staff, police said.

Bensalem detectives continue to investigate the incident to determine the identity of the person who sent the photograph to other students.