2 juveniles arrested for threats against Indianapolis-area schools

Two juveniles were arrested for allegedly making violent threats to Indianapolis-area school districts, the Indiana State Police announced Friday.

A 12-year-old was taken into custody in one incident, while a 15-year-old was detained in a separate case. A third investigation into a threat was found to be unfounded.

Troopers say they worked with school personnel to identify the students and obtain search warrants. Limited details on the suspects are available due to their age.

The names of the schools targeted in the threats were not released by police.

“Threats of violence toward a school must be taken seriously, it is essential we immediately and thoroughly investigate each incident and utilize every investigative resource available,” Indiana State Police Lt. Josh Watson said in a statement. “I will continue to encourage anyone with information about a threat of violence to immediately report that information to the school and or police.”

Watson said school safety is among the highest priorities for state police.

State police did not reveal which districts were targeted.

Also on Friday, IPS informed families about shooting threats that circulated on social media and via text messages among students and staff. Broad Ripple Middle School was the focus of a threat. IMPD and IPS police investigated the posts and found there was not an ongoing danger to any district schools.

Superintendent Aleesia Johnson called “hoax” threats a disturbing trend that must be taken seriously.

“This is beyond agonizing for families, students, and staff. As a parent of IPS students as well, I feel both the anxiety that threats against our schools creates and the great responsibility of ensuring we do all we can to keep our students safe,” Johnson said in an email to district families. “It is tragic that violent threats of this nature have become a part of modern life.”

Johnson said every threat must be taken seriously until police confirm otherwise.

Last week fake threats of school shootings were reported across the country from California to Florida.

Contact WFYI education editor Eric Weddle at eweddle@wfyi.org.