SCHUYLKILL HAVEN, Pa. — A ninth-grade male student from Blue Mountain School District is allegedly behind threatening comments to start a school shooting at the high school.
School administrators say they learned about the male students threatening comments Tuesday.
Parents and students from the high school who wished to remain anonymous said they couldn't believe threats like this would happen so close to home.
"I was just surprised that could happen at my school, and just like that, it could even happen," a student said.
"It's scary anymore. I mean, with everything that's going on, you know, it's not like, 'Oh, it will never happen to us.' Now it could happen at everybody's back door," a parent said.
District officials say they learned of the male students threatening comments to "start a school shooting" via Snapchat from a student at the high school.
"It's a shock that's it's really coming this close. You think of it happening in a big city. Orwigsburg is just a little town," said Linda Dieter, East Brunswick Township.
After the ninth-grade student was detained and searched in school, he was sent home with his guardians.
State police were notified, and county officials went to the boy's homes, where guns were found and taken.
"It literally is full-on, full-court press, and we're going to take care of the problem and get to the bottom of it, and were going to do whatever to make sure everyone is safe," said Trooper David Beohm,
The superintendent says the boy is suspended until further notice and is currently under house arrest.
"We take every threat seriously because our students' safety is of paramount importance to us. He referenced shooting the school with a gun, and you know that's serious," said Blue Mountain School District Superintendent David Helsel.
The ninth-grade male student is being charged as a juvenile with terrorist threats.
The investigation is still ongoing. School officials say expulsion from school is on the table.
If you have any information, you are asked to contact the state police at the Schuylkill Haven barracks at (570) 593-2000.
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