23 Charged With Making School Threats In Wayne County: Prosecutor

DETROIT, MI — Detroit Police Chief James E. White joined Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy on Thursday to address an increase in school threats following the shooting at Oxford High School that left four people dead and seriously injured several others Nov. 30.

“It’s no secret we’ve had a rash of school threats since the tragic shooting in Oxford. Many of these threats are not credible; however, they require an intense investigation," Chief White said during a news conference. "There’s nothing amusing about threatening to harm others, and if you engage in that behavior the consequences are severe. It could result in criminal charges as well as a felony.”

According to Worthy, since the fatal shooting at Oxford, her office has charged 23 people - most of them juveniles - for making school threats. She said her office is looking at possibly charging at least 10 more.

“I would not be surprised if we double the number by next week,” Worthy said. "We’ve been seeing this for a very long time, and we’ve been tracking these numbers since 2018."

Both urged parents to explain to their children that making schools threats are no laughing matter and could have legal consequences that follow them for years.

“Parents, please talk to your children. Let them know this is serious. Let them know that even they intended it to be a prank, it isn’t a joke. We have to expend many resources, working with law enforcement, sometimes mental health agencies," Worthy stressed.

“It’s very important that parents have conversations with their children to eliminate this unnecessary situation that doing this causes," White said.

In addition to the news conference, Worthy's office announced Thursday that it charged four students for alleged threats of violence against multiple Wayne County Schools on Dec. 4-6.

"Since 2018 this office has attempted to reach and educate every parent with our 'School Threat Letters.' The letter is translated into five languages. I have personally visited almost every jurisdiction in Wayne County. 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," Worthy said.

The details of those recent charges are below:

1. Male (DOB:01/25/2007), Student at Wilson Middle School, Wyandotte: Charged for Alleged Conduct on December 5, 2021 - Intentional Threat to Commit Act of Violence Against School, School Employees or Students and Malicious Use of a Telecommunications Device.

• Bond: $5,000/10%
• Next Court Date: Pre-Trial on December 15, 2021 at 9:00 a.m. before Referee Charles Wilson.

2. Male (DOB: 09/08/2006), Student at Central High School, Detroit: Charged for Alleged Conduct on December 6, 2021 - Intentional Threat to Commit Act of Violence Against School, School Employees or Students and Malicious Use of a Telecommunications Device.

• Bond: $5,000/10%
• Next Court Date: Pre-Trial on December 13, 2021 at 9:00 a.m. before Referee Karen Braxton.

3. Female (DOB: 05/04/2004), Student at East English Village Preparatory Academy, Detroit: Charged for Alleged Conduct on December 4, 2021 - Intentional Threat to Commit Act of Violence Against School, School Employees or Students and Malicious Use of a Telecommunications Device.

• Bond: $5,000/10%
• Next Court Date: December 15, 2021 at 9:00 a.m. before Referee Charles Wilson.

4. Male (DOB: 11/14/2005), Student at Martin Luther King High School, Detroit: Charged for Alleged Conduct on December 6, 2021 - False Report or Threat of Terrorism and Malicious Use of a Telecommunications Device.

• Bond: $5,000/10%
• Next Court Date: Pre-Trial on January 12, 2022 before Referee Nicholas Hathaway.