MUSKEGON, Mich. — The Muskegon County Prosecutor’s Office says in the past 24 hours it has authorized charges against nine juveniles for making threats against local schools.
Those facing charges range in age from 12 to 14 and charges range from disturbing the peace to making a false report or threat of terrorism.
According to Muskegon County Prosecutor DJ Hilson, all of the juveniles charged are students at the schools involved in the complaint.
School districts involved include Mona Shores, Muskegon, Muskegon Heights, Reeths Puffer, Oakridge and Whitehall.
According to Hilson, the juveniles primarily used the app "Snapchat" to make the threats. Police are still investigating the motives, but initial evidence indicates the majority were made to avoid going to class.
Hilson assured parents that the threats against area schools appears largely to be resolved.
The prosecutor’s office says five of the nine suspects appeared in court on Wednesday. Officials say home confinement and strict conditions prohibiting social media use were ordered in the cases. Court proceedings for the remaining four will be scheduled in the coming days,
The prosecutor’s office says it wants to reiterate that anyone making threats of violence against a school or its students will be “dealt with swiftly and severely.”
