Fairfield Student Arrested For Social Media Threat, Police Say

FAIRFIELD, CT — Police say they have arrested a Fairfield School District student in connection with a threatening social media post that was made earlier in September.

On Sept. 13, the school district alerted some parents that students may be planning to meet at Assumption SeptemberFest "with the intent to engage in a physical altercation, based on information discovered through social media," officials said.

Police immediately started investigating the threat, in connection with the FBI and the school district.

Authorities determined the threat was not credible, but still increased police presence at the annual event that weekend and developed a plan to monitor the situation.

Detectives and the Fairfield Police School Safety Unit had identified the post's author by Sept. 24, according to police.

"Evidence confirmed that the post originated from a middle-school-aged student within the Fairfield School District and was meant as a hoax," police said. "The student was subsequently arrested."

Officials did not say if the student faces criminal charges, and said Fairfield Schools are following their own disciplinary procedures.

Chief Robert Kalamaras said that Fairfield Police "will continue to utilize every resource at our disposal to ensure the safety and security of our community.”

“We understand that situations like these can cause concern, and we want to assure the public that our officers acted swiftly and thoroughly from the initial report to the conclusion of the investigation,” Kalamaras said in a statement. “We encourage students, parents, and community members to remember that any involvement in creating or perpetuating these threats can lead to arrest and disciplinary action, regardless of the original intent. Schools and public spaces must remain safe havens for our children and residents."

Police encouraged parents and guardians to talk to their children about the consequences of making these posts, and to monitor their children's social media activity.

"Anyone found responsible or complicit in these activities—whether by creating, sharing, reposting, or otherwise perpetuating threats of violence—will be held accountable by both law enforcement and the school district," police said. "It is important to recognize that even those who do not initiate these threats but choose to participate in spreading or amplifying them can face severe consequences."

Online threats have also been made recently at school districts in Bridgeport and Westport, prompting Fairfield police to increase patrols at schools throughout town.

On Sept. 19, Superintendent Michael Testani had told families that "there are no known or actionable threats to Fairfield Public Schools."