May 10, 2008 7:19 am US/Central
Downers Grove H.S. Student Charged Over Threat
DOWNERS GROVE, Ill. (Naperville Sun) ―
A Downers Grove South High School student was arrested Friday in connection with a threatening message left at the school.
Principal Mark McDonald said graffiti found on April 24 on lockers in the athletic locker room bore the message "The school is going to die 5-3-08. Watch out."
The 15-year-old male freshman was charged with making a false terrorist threat, according to a release from the Downers Grove Police Department.
Deputy Chief Jim Black said two other male Downers Grove South students were also associated with the threat, but no charges had been brought against them as of Friday.
McDonald said all three students have been suspended from school and that school officials are considering further consequences, including expulsion.
"We're really trying to discourage kids from doing stuff like this by making the consequence harsh," he said.
McDonald said a coach found the graffiti, which covered several lockers, and immediately reported it to school officials and the police. He added that he believes the threat was a prank and that the students were not planning anything dangerous.
Over the two weeks after the threat was discovered, a letter and phone call went out to parents, alerting them to the situation, McDonald said.
Making a false terrorist threat is a Class 1 felony that carries a maximum penalty of four to 15 years state prison, according to the Police Department release.
The juvenile was in the custody of his parents pending a future court date.
(CBS 2, the Naperville Sun and the Aurora Beacon-News are news partners covering stories in the western suburbs. Send story tips to tips@cbs2chicago.com. (© MMVII, CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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