Online Video Game To Blame For Threat That Closed Howell Schools
HOWELL (WWJ) - An online video game is apparently to blame for a threat that led to the closure of Howell schools on Monday.
Howell Public Schools Superintendent Erin MacGregor sent an email to families updating them about a threat to "shoot up school," which was made on Twitter Sunday evening.
In partnership with the Harnett County Sheriff's Department (in North Carolina), the Michigan State Police located the individual responsible for making the threat. The individual is a 16 year-old high school student in Lillington, North Carolina. The detectives at the Harnett County Sheriff's Department interviewed the student ... and determined this was not a credible threat. The threat was made as a result of an online video game the students were playing.
Michigan State Police are in the process of finalizing the investigation, which will be submitted to the prosecutor's office for review.
Schools across the district were closed Monday after officials were made aware of the threat. Classes resumed Tuesday.
Police launched an investigation around 11 p.m. Sunday after a Howell High School student received a message via Twitter that threatened to "shoot your school up." Investigators identified the email and out-of-state IP address connected to the Twitter account used in the threat. A warrant was then submitted to Google for personal information connected to the email address, officials said, which eventually led investigators to the teenager in North Carolina.
