Cochrane RCMP charged a 15-year-old boy with uttering threats June 3 after the young man posted a photo of himself on the social media site Snapchat with ammunition and a caption warning fellow students not to show up for classes at Cochrane High School June 6.
“It was brought to our attention by another student who had received it,” Campbell said. “The original threat was investigated as soon as we got it and the 15-year-old youth was arrested that night. A bail hearing was held that night and the youth was released into the custody of his parents under strict conditions.”
According to Campbell, significant chatter on social media began June 3 and continued over the weekend amongst students in Cochrane.
“Social media gave many, many kids the platform to start the rumour mill,” he said. “Additional rumours were floating around that there might be additional threats by other students. That came to our attention and we followed up on those over the weekend and first thing Monday morning (June 6).”
Campbell said none of the additional rumours turned out to be true.
Officers were sent to all the area schools to meet with principals and staff to let them know what was going on and what RCMP was doing.
“We were fielding calls from parents that morning. We basically told them, ‘It’s safe, but if you choose to keep your children home, that is your call.’ At that point and time there was no immediate threat to anyone in particular,” he said. “Given the recent school shootings, we can’t take the chance and given the gravity of the threat, that’s why it was investigated.”
According to Campbell, the student’s parents are co-operating fully with police.
“We’re putting the message out to the kids, you need to be very mindful of what you’re putting out (on social media),” he said. “If this was a joke, now the joke has severe consequences attached to it.”
The teen will appear in youth court in Cochrane Provincial Court on June 14. He can’t be named because he is a young offender.
If you have any information about any crime, contact your local RCMP detachment or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or online at tipsubmit.com
