Two Jennings County High School students and one North Vernon Elementary School student face preliminary charges of intimidation, a Level 5 felony, following a series of three school threats over a six-day period.
In a related incident, around 25 JCHS students staged a protest on Tuesday about security at the school. Nine of those students were cited for truancy after leaving school without permission from staff or their parents, according to North Vernon police.
Police do not believe the threats were coordinated, said Sgt. Andrew Richmond.
"There is no evidence that any of these events had prior planning or preparation," he said. "The North Vernon Police Department is aware of certain allegations stating that 'hit lists' and videos depicting animal cruelty were discovered related to one of the events. At this time, no evidence has been discovered nor provided to support these claims."
Two of the incidents were on Tuesday, Sept. 10, according to North Vernon School Resource Officer Matt Staples. A North Vernon Elementary School sixth grader allegedly made a vague broad threat to the school body on a social media site that referenced prior school shootings. The student was arrested and removed from the school.
On the same day a JCHS ninth grader made a specific threat to two other students while in a classroom, police said. The student was arrested and removed from the school.
Then on Monday, Sept. 16, a JCHS 11th grader allegedly announced a vague broad threat overheard by other students at school. The student was arrested and removed from the school. Wednesday, September 18, 2019
New scholarship honors memory
of Morgan Gibson Family and friends of a young woman tragically killed in an automobile accident announce they have created a scholarship to honor her memory.
Jasper Clark, 5, of Commiskey sails down the Fun Slide last Saturday at the St. Mary's Community Festival. A large crowd attended the three days of festivities. More photos will be in next week's edition of the Plain Dealer.-Staff Photo by Bryce Mayer
