KENT, Ohio — An 11-year-old Kent student who attends Stanton Middle School was arrested overnight and charged with making terrorist threats after police were alerted to an alleged school threat shortly before 11 p.m. Thursday.
“Two Stanton Middle School students were having a conversation by text when one student made threats of a school shooting,” according to a press release from the Kent Police Department. “The suspect reiterated the threat, prompting the other student to responsibly notify someone.”
Police then identified the suspect and went to his home in Kent.
“The suspect and his family cooperated with the investigation, and he admitted to making threats and showed police his phone conversation,” according to Kent police.
After police consulted a prosecutor, the child was arrested shortly before 2 a.m. Friday and taken to the Portage Juvenile Detention Center.
Out of an abundance of caution, police say Kent City Schools announced that Stanton Middle School was closed for the day Friday.
“Kent police and Kent City Schools are urging families to have conversations with children about the seriousness of threats, and the appropriate use of their cell phones,” according to the press release.
3News has reached out to Kent City Schools for comment. We will update this story upon their response.
