Sault Ste. Marie Police Department immediately responded to a threat of gun violence made against Sault Area High School last Thursday morning.
According to a press release issued by Chief Wesley Bierling and Prosecutor Robert L. Stratton, police arrived at approximately 9:39 a.m. to find the school locked down in “secure mode.”
“When we responded, school leadership had already taken precautionary safety measures,” Bierling stated in the release.
Superintendent Amy Scott-Kronemeyer confirmed immediate action was taken by faculty, following two isolated reports of a school threat posted to Snapchat.
“I would like to say thank you to the students who brought this to our attention,” Kronemeyer said. “When you see something, say something. They did the right thing.”
A 15-year-old student has been accused of making suggestive threats on social media with a cell phone. Threats indicated the use of a firearm to harm others. The unnamed minor was not in attendance on the day of the threat, but quickly located in the St. Ignace area. The individual was detained by the St. Ignace Police Department.
“The student has since been lodged at the Sault Tribe Detention Facility on the charge of ‘Making Terrorist Threat,’ which for an adult is a felony punishable by imprisonment for not more than 20 years or a fine of not more than $20,000, or both,” Stratton stated in the release.
Statewide occurrences of school threats have risen after 15-year-old Ethan Crumbley was accused of killing four Oxford High School students on Nov. 30. Local authorities warned that threats of violence will be investigated.
“We will investigate and prosecute anyone and everyone who makes threats, allows threats, or facilitates threats towards the students, staff, or buildings of our schools,” Stratton stated. “Parents and guardians, please talk to your children and teach them that all threats, even those made idly, are wrong, dangerous, and cannot be tolerated.”
Kronemeyer praised everyone’s response to the threat and would like to reassure parents that their children are safe in school.
“We have a really good administrative team of caring and trained staff to ensure kids are safe,” Kronemeyer said. “We will continue to follow our protocols. Parents have entrusted their children to us and we are going to ensure safety.”
Kronemeyer emphasized the school’s role in encouraging a positive social learning development, while teaching restorative justice and accountability. Staff watch for students in need of social and cognitive emotional support, providing a multidisciplinary team of professionals to guide and assist. However, action will be taken if and when a threat against themselves or anyone else is made.
The Sault Ste. Marie Police Department was assisted by the St. Ignace Police Department, Sault Ste. Marie Fire Department, Chippewa County Central Dispatch, Chippewa County Prosecutor’s Office, Chippewa County Sheriff’s Office, Michigan State Police and Sault Tribe Police Department.
If anyone has tips or information about the incident, please contact Detective Phil Donnay at 906-632-5753. All other inquiries are directed to Chief Wesley Bierling at 906-632-5729 or wbierling@saultcity.com
