12/8/21 - Waterford, MI
Today the Waterford Police Department investigated three separate reports of threats by students, as listed below:
#1 – An eighth-grader at Pierce Middle School told another student that he brought a gun to school, and at one point made a threatening gesture with his hand, mimicking a shooting gun. The student making the threat was taken into custody and is now lodged at Oakland County Children’s Village, pending a hearing tomorrow at 1:30pm.
#2 – Administrators at Oakland Scholars Charter School made us aware of an eight-grader who made statements about his plan “if I was a school shooter”, including type of gun as well as time and location. The student also made specific gestures mimicking a shooting gun. The student was taken into custody and is now lodged at Oakland County Children’s Village, pending a hearing tomorrow at 1:30pm.
#3 – Two nine-year olds at Riverside Elementary were each in possession of a “naughty/nice” list with several names on each, as well as the words “alive” and “dead” on each side of the lists. Both students were transported to police headquarters and subsequently turned over to their parents. Juvenile petitions will be submitted to the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office for review and consideration of charges.
Update:A hearing was held this afternoon in front of Oakland County Juvenile referee Omesra for the second of two Mason Middle School Students making threats at that school. As with the first, the second student was also charged with “knowingly making a false threat of terrorism – 20 year felony”. He will be held at Oakland County Children’s Village until his next hearing on December 21, 2021 at 10:30am.
It has been said by our department as well as other law enforcement officials across the country, and we will say it once again, we take all threats seriously. Students who think this a way to be funny, or gain some kind of recognition from their classmates, are making a very big mistake.
It is imperative that parents have a serious conversation with their children. They must be made aware that these types of behaviors will not be tolerated, that such behavior can be criminal, and that there will most certainly be severe consequences.
Scott Underwood
Chief of Police
