Child Charged After School Shooting Threat, Showing Shotgun On Call: Police

LAKE COUNTY, IL — Charges have been filed after a school shooting threat was made last week in Lake County.

The Lake County Sheriff's Office has filed a juvenile petition for charges against a child who is accused of threatening to take part in the school shooting at Fremont Middle School. He made the threat while riding a school bus home Wednesday after an altercation with other students, according to a news release.

The juvenile, after arriving home, got a gun from his house and got onto a video call with one of the students involved in the earlier altercation. The juvenile showed the child the gun during the call, according to police.

Deputies responded to the child's home and seized the shotgun used in the video, police said. Detectives also sought a firearm restraining order, which was approved, and seized an additional firearm and ammunition that was found inside the safe in the home.

The juvenile was petitioned to juvenile court on charges of unlawful possession of a firearm and aggravated assault. Charges are also pending against the juvenile's guardians, police said.

Detectives have reached out to Illinois State Police regarding the Firearm Owner Identification Card status of the adults living in the home with the juvenile, police said.

Authorities said members of the sheriff's office's community engagement and school resource team and the school district collaborated during the reported threats.

“We are incredibly grateful to the witnesses who stepped forward to report this threat. The community plays a critical role in preventing tragedies," said Lake County Sheriff John D. Idleburg. "Across the country, we've seen too many instances of school violence where warning signs went unreported. Thanks to the diligence and swift action of my dedicated staff, we were able to seize these weapons and ensure the safety of the school and our community. Together, we can make a difference by speaking up when something doesn’t seem right.”