METHUEN, Mass. — A juvenile has been charged in connection to the several threatening messages found written on the walls at the Presentation of Mary Academy.
Methuen Police put extra security measures in place after they found the messages and searched every single student who attends the parochial school on Thursday.
The threatening messages were found on Wednesday, October 4, where police were dispatched to the school at around 4 p.m. to investigate reports of vandalism.
Upon arrival, officers were taken to the school's gymnasium where they found a threat to harm people at the school written on the side of the building.
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The threat was first discovered by a student who then alerted administrators. It is unknown how long the threat had been there before it was discovered, however, it does not specifically target any individual in particular and does not specify a time or date.
Methuen Police activated The Northeastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council School Threat Assessment Team (NEMLEC S.T.A.R.S.) which is composed of officers from around Middlesex and Essex counties, who are specially-trained to respond to school-related threats and incidents.
“While there was never any threat to the community, the safety of our students, teachers and administrators is paramount, and we took these precautions because it was the prudent thing to do,” Chief Solomon said. “I would like to thank everyone for their patience and support during this incident and especially want to commend the student who came forward to alert school officials about the threat. This student’s courage should serve as an example to others to always say something if you see something.”
The following is the full statutory description of the charge:
Did willfully communicate or cause to be communicated through an electronic communication device or by some other means a threat (1) that a firearm, rifle, shotgun, machine gun or assault weapon, as defined in G.L. c.140, §121, an explosive or incendiary device, a dangerous chemical or biological agent, a poison, a harmful radioactive substance or some other device, substance or item capable of causing death, serious bodily injury or substantial property damage, would be used at a place or location, or was present or would be present at a place or location, whether or not the same was in fact used or present; or (2) to hijack an aircraft, ship, or common carrier thereby causing anxiety, unrest, fear, or personal discomfort to any person or group of persons; in violation of G.L. c.269, §14(b).
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