UPDATE FROM THE OFFICE OF THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY
Updated Release Regarding Indiana Junior High School (4:30 pm)
This is a joint statement from the Indiana Area School District, Indiana Borough Police, and the Indiana County District Attorney’s Office.
Between 6:30 am and 7:00 am, a Safe 2 Say report was received by the Indiana Area School District. The anonymous report only stated that all 8th grade backpacks should be searched. School officials notified the Indiana Borough Police Department and officers responded to the school immediately.
The Indiana Borough Police Department, in conjunction with the Indiana Area School District and the Indiana County District Attorney’s Office, were able to determine the following:
On Sunday, May 29, a student of the junior high school was in possession of a stolen handgun. The student showed the handgun to a fellow student. Further, the student in possession of the stolen firearm sent a photo through the application Snapchat depicting himself holding the stolen firearm. The mother of the student in possession of the firearm was notified by another parent that her child had a gun. The mother of the student in possession of the firearm then returned the firearm to the lawful owner.
Neither law enforcement nor the school district was notified over the holiday weekend of the stolen firearm or its unlawful possession. Upon receiving the early morning report to Safe 2 Say, law enforcement and school district officials were quickly able to identify the purpose of the Safe 2 Say report and the suspect juvenile. The suspect juvenile was separated from the other students as law enforcement continued their investigation. The school continued to search the students at the school in an abundance of caution.
The Indiana County District Attorney’s office has approved the filing of a juvenile petition against the suspect. Due to the privacy restrictions of the juvenile justice system, the name of the juvenile, the charges and any outcome is restricted access and the law does not allow for its publication.
The Indiana Area School District had counselors available throughout the day to address the fears, concerns and anxieties related to this situation. The district will continue to make these services available to all of its students.
We are asking that every member of our community takes the proactive stance in reporting any behavior, threat, or action that may place another at risk of harm. There is never a harm in reporting suspicious behavior to our schools or law enforcement community. Systems, such as Safe 2 Say, allow for the quick sharing of information by individuals who can choose to remain anonymous or not. However, these systems are only as good as we use them.
PREVIOUSLY REPORTED: Indiana Borough Police have released more details concerning a safety check performed this morning at Indiana Junior High School.
Police were notified this morning of a Safe to Say report indicating a possible threat of a weapon being brought to school today, and in support of a reactive safety check by district officials, helped with the safety check. The district previously reported to Junior High parents that the report was received between 6:30 and 7:00 this morning. During the investigation, police found that a Junior High Student was seen in possession of a firearm on May 29th, and a Snapchat conversation surrounding the gun took place at a different time.
Police say that they will continue to investigate along with district officials. Police are maintaining a presence at the school today, and reiterate a message that was first sent out by Chief Justin Schawl this morning: there is no cause for alarm and everyone is safe.
As soon as we have more information, we will pass it along to you.
