Boy, 13, In Grissom MS Threat Charged With Felony: Tinley PD

TINLEY PARK, IL — The teen responsible for a social media threat against Grissom Middle School earlier this month has been charged with a felony, police said Friday morning.

Officials said the 13-year-old boy was charged with felony disorderly conduct on Sept. 26, after making online threats against students at Grissom Middle School on Sept. 14. Kirby District 140 officials were alerted to the post made on Snapchat, Superintendent Dan Callaghan said, and immediately contacted police.

The Tinley Park Police Department, in cooperation with Kirby School District 140, was able to identify the boy who made the threats after an intensive investigation. The boy is not a student at Grissom, police said, but had gained unauthorized access to a Grissom student’s social media account and likeness, and used it to make the threats appear as if they were coming from the student whose identity he stole. Police did not provide any further information.

"Kirby School District 140 faced a challenging situation in the past few weeks, highlighting the impact of social media threats on community safety," District officials said in an email to parents Friday. "It's important to remember how quickly a disturbing post can spread and the anxiety it creates among students, families, and staff. The rapid coordination of efforts between Kirby School District 140 and our local law enforcement partners demonstrates our shared commitment to safety and effective communication.

"It’s crucial for students and adults to understand the weight of their online actions and the potential consequences they can have on the community. We ask parents to speak to their children about the severity of making any threats to the school community, as well as monitoring their social media. As always, if you become aware of any potential threat or concerning behavior, please report it to your school principal or local police department immediately."