12-Year-Old and 15-Year-Old Students Charged with Making Terroristic Threats

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UTICA, NY – On Friday, September 13, 2024, a Utica City School District staff member received a threatening email warning of a school shooting. The Utica Police Department (UPD) was immediately notified and launched a comprehensive investigation. Working in collaboration with internet service providers, investigators successfully traced the email’s origin.

The investigation revealed that a 12-year-old student had sent the email following an issue at school earlier in the week. Law enforcement confirmed that no weapons were found at the student’s residence, and the student’s parents verified that the juvenile did not have access to any firearms.

In a separate incident, during the early hours of Monday, September 16, 2024, the FBI alerted the UPD to a threat posted on Snapchat. The newly created account threatened three schools: Proctor High School, JFK Middle School, and Donovan Middle School.

With location data provided by the FBI, the UPD was able to track down a 15-year-old student responsible for the post. The investigation concluded that the student had no intention of carrying out the threat. As with the earlier incident, no weapons were found at the student's home, and the parents confirmed the juvenile had no access to firearms.

The UPD’s Juvenile Aid Unit has charged both students with Making a Terroristic Threat, a class D felony. The cases will proceed in Oneida County Family Court.

The Utica City School District emphasized its ongoing commitment to the safety of students and staff. As part of its efforts to enhance security, the district has introduced several new measures this year, including:

1. Increased camera surveillance throughout district facilities

2. The installation of metal detectors and x-ray bag scanners at all middle and high schools

3. Strengthened collaboration with the Utica Police Department and the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office

District officials and law enforcement assure the community that there is no current threat to the schools. All district schools remain open, with additional safety measures in place.

Parents, students, and community members with questions or concerns are encouraged to contact Dr. Christopher Spence, Superintendent of Utica City School District, or the Utica Police Department.