Student charged with making threat against Belle Vernon Area School District
An unidentified student is facing charges for allegedly making an online threat about a school shooting earlier this month referencing the Belle Vernon Area School District in Rostraver Township.
The student, who will be charged as a juvenile, is accused of making the threat last week while playing an online video game with someone in Minnesota.
The person in Minnesota reported the threat to local authorities, prompting the school district to issue a warning on its Facebook page and website on April 20 alerting parents and students of the situation. The posting stated that state police at the Belle Vernon barracks were alerted to a threat to the school, and worked in conjunction with school officials and Rostraver Township police.
State police troopers and Rostraver police officers responded to the campus and worked with school officials under “established protocols” to ensure the safety of students and staff. That threat, along with other unrelated threats made in late March, were deemed not to be credible, school officials said at the time.
Rostraver Township police executed a search warrant at the student’s house and took possession of all electronic devices as part of the investigation, the Westmoreland County district attorney’s office said in a press release.
“The prompt and proactive measures of the Rostraver Police Department and Belle Vernon Area School District to intercept this threat, credible or not, should be commended,” District Attorney Nicole Ziccarelli said in a written statement. “I am thankful for the individual who reported this and that all students and staff are safe.”
Rostraver Township police charged the student, who was not named, with terroristic threats and simple assault. Rostraver Township Police Chief Scott Sokol thanked school officials for their cooperation in the investigation.
“Rostraver Township Police would like to commend the online gamer (in Minnesota) for taking this threat seriously, showing initiative and having the courage to reach out and contact our department,” Sokol said in a written statement.