DETROIT (AP) — Nine Detroit-area students face hearings before juvenile court referees accused of making threats against schools in the wake of a shooting at Oxford High School in Oakland County that left four students dead.
The students range in age from 12 to 17. Eight are charged with intentional threat to commit an act of violence against a school employee or students. One faces a false report or threat of terrorism charge. Six also are charged with malicious use of a telecommunications device.
The threats occurred Dec. 2-6 at schools in Detroit, Wayne, Grosse Pointe Farms, Melvindale, and Wyandotte. The students were charged last week.
"Juveniles do not receive adult sentences," the Wayne County prosecutor's office said Wednesday. "Upon conviction, a judge will fashion a sentence considering the crime committed, and the rehabilitation of the juvenile offender."
After the Nov. 30 shootings at Oxford High School, a number of Michigan schools cancelled classes over the next day or two due to online threats and safety concerns by parents and students.
Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy said her office has charged 18 youths in the last few days with crimes relating to school threats. She didn't provide details about the other nine cases.
"Much has been written about these types of cases lately, yet still these serious events continue to happen," Worthy said. "Quelling school threats is going to take the work of all of us. It is also going to take facing head-on the access our children have for guns and their fascination with them."
