Freshman Arrested In Upper Darby School Shooting Threat: Police

UPPER DARBY, PA – An Upper Darby High School student who allegedly made a shooting threat has been arrested and charged, according to Upper Darby Police.

Police said Thursday the threats were made in an Instagram post from a 14-year-old ninth grade student at Upper Darby High School. The threat – which police were tipped off to anonymously – was posted back on June 29 then taken down, police said.

Another student alerted police to the threat being reposted again Wednesday, which led police to launch an investigation into the threat.

Police said officers were at the district Wednesday to speak about the alleged threat, and that's around the time the student told police about the threat being shared again.

Police said Instagram is being "very cooperative" with police to identify who posted the alleged threat, but that Instagram had not cooperated with police when they were alerted to the post in June.

The teen was arrested Wednesday night after police served a search warrant at the boy's Upper Darby home, police said.

Police did not find any weapons in the home. He is facing terroristic threat and harassment charges, according to police.

The boy, who confessed to making the post, is in custody at a juvenile detention facility in Lima, police said.

The district initially canceled classes and all activities on Friday, Sept. 7 in response to the alleged online shooting threat. However, acting Upper Darby School District Superintendent Dan McGarry said school will resume Friday.

McGarry said regarding this incident, the schools are safe. District officials said there is increased police presence at its schools as a result. McGarry thanked police and school security for their work to find who allegedly posted the threat.

The district said it will not release details on the student's identity.

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