Child arrested for threats of violence against Brodgen Middle

Gillie said the juvenile was a student at Brogden Middle, located at 3761 U.S. 117 in Dudley, and was arrested at the school before being released to parents.

The juvenile faces two charges of making a false report concerning mass violence on educational property, Gillie said.

“At no time were the students and staff in any danger due to these threats,” Gillie said.

Neither Gillie nor Ken Derksen, Wayne County Public Schools executive director for community engagement and student and family support, confirmed the child’s gender.

In addition, neither official confirmed whether the threats involved guns or other weapons, whether any of the staff and faculty were specifically targeted or a motive for the threats.

“Any specifics on the juvenile or the threat are part of the investigation and are not public,” Gillie said. “The Wayne County Sheriff’s Office regularly works with the Wayne County Public Schools system on threats like this.

“Any threats against educational property will be investigated thoroughly, and the person responsible will be charged accordingly.”

Gillie said staff and faculty at the school were never at any risk of danger and that juvenile petitions will be taken out against the child.

Derksen expanded on Gillie’s comments, deferring comment on the investigation to the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office.

“Rumors and threats of school shootings have become more commonplace for school districts across the nation in recent years,” Derksen said. “Having said that, regardless of credibility level, WCPS remains responsive to any threat made against students or staff.

“We appreciate our law enforcement partners for their investigative efforts and support. As we work to keep parents informed, we also appreciate their efforts to talk with their child about the severity of the consequences for creating threats or rumors of threats against a school.”

The threats made against Brogden Middle School this week mark the second time since May that threats have been made against faculty and staff at the school, and the third time this year that a threat has been made against students and staff at Wayne County public schools.

The first threat made against faculty and staff at Brogden Middle School was reported just after 8 a.m. on May 25.

The person making the threat on social media said they were going to shoot up the school.

Thomas Young, Brogden Middle School principal, said in a recorded message that a temporary lockdown was enacted as a safety measure and a plan was put in place for families who wanted to take their children home. Extra deputies were posted at the school throughout the day to make sure nothing happened.

Another threat was reported in late October through Instagram against students and staff at Eastern Wayne High School.

John Waters, Eastern Wayne High School principal, confirmed through a recorded call to parents that the threat was a hoax.

Waters said in the recorded call that a juvenile in New Mexico was arrested in connection with making the original threat against a school in New Mexico.

“Unfortunately, someone tied that threatening post to our school by editing the image, adding our school’s name, and then sharing it in a screenshot,” Waters said, in May. “Please talk with your child about the seriousness of what occurred.

Any student who is caught making threats or creating rumors about threats could face disciplinary action in accordance with local Board of Education policy. They could also face criminal charges from the FBI or local law enforcement.”

Waters did not identify who altered the original image to feature Eastern Wayne High School’s name in his statement to parents.