Boy, 12, Vows Harm To Joliet's Schools On Instagram: Joliet PD

JOLIET —More Joliet students are taking to social media — and getting caught — vowing to bring harm to the Joliet area's school buildings and their fellow students through the use of weapons and school shootings. On Monday, Joliet police captured a 12-year-old girl and a 14-year-old girl. On Tuesday, a 12-year-old boy who attends Dirksen Junior High School on Midland Avenue was apprehended.

According to Tuesday night's Joliet police press release from agency spokesman Dwayne English, the 12-year-old boy was arrested and released to a family member with referral to the River Valley Justice Center on charges of felony disorderly conduct/transmitting a threat of destruction of school property or violence, death or bodily harm against persons at school.

On Monday, at 3:41 p.m., the Joliet Police Department was notified about a threat posted to Instagram by an unknown source. The social media threat indicated harm to students at local schools. The same Instagram posting had been shared numerous times.

While addressing other recent social media threats toward Joliet-area schools, Joliet Police detectives immediately initiated an investigation into the origins of this Instagram post.

As this investigation progressed, detectives identified the 12-year-old boy as the suspect. He was found at a relative’s home in Joliet, and he indicated his involvement in authoring the post as a prank, English said.

The 12-year-old boy was placed into custody without incident and released to a family member with a referral to the River Valley Justice Center.

Police said detectives searched the boy's belongings as well as his bedroom at his residence at a different location, and no weapons or other contraband were located.

"It is believed that the male was a student at Dirksen Junior High," English said.

The Joliet Police Department said it "is committed to ensuring the safety and security of our schools. We take all threats made on social media very seriously and will hold those responsible accountable for their actions. Recently, we have seen an increase in social media threats directed at our schools, and we want to remind everyone that such actions carry real consequences. Additional officers will be deployed this week to patrol Joliet area schools and their vicinities."