THOMASTON — A student has been released back to his family after being charged with making a threat at Oceanside Middle School.
The Knox County Sheriff’s Office investigated the threat that was made at about 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 27, according to Chief Deputy Tim Carroll.
The administration from the school spoke with deputies regarding a male juvenile in the school who told another student that when he came to school Wednesday he was going to “shoot it up.”
Another student apparently overheard the conversation and tried to intervene and the male juvenile threatened him too to not say anything or he would do harm to him as well.
Knox County Sgt. John Palmer and Deputy Paul Spear interviewed witnesses and the suspect juvenile. After a brief interview with the suspect and his father, the juvenile — from Rockland — was charged with Class D terrorizing and a Class C felony tampering with a witness.
Through the investigation, it was determined that the suspect juvenile had no means to carry out the threat and that he stated he was just trash talking. He also now realizes he shouldn’t have said it, according to Sgt. Palmer.
Carroll said there were no guns in the household.
“We do not believe there is any more threat concerning this incident,” Carroll said.
“Unfortunately, it is a troubling time concerning school safety and the horrific actions that have been carried out in this country. The Knox County Sheriff’s Office always tries to assure the safety of all people of Knox County and encourages anyone to not only, ‘see something, say something’, but if you, “hear something, say something.” I give credit to the young student that spoke up and told someone about this potential threat. The Sheriff’s Office will investigate all people’s concerns and will appropriately pursue legal action if necessary. These types of occurrences will be dealt with seriously to continue to assure that safety for all,” the chief deputy said.
The student will not be returning to class this week, Carroll said, and will have to meet with the administration.
The Sheriff’s Office investigated the case because it was covering for Thomaston Tuesday afternoon. Thomaston is down two officers.
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