Police Investigate Student Text Threat to 'Shoot Up The School'

The Portsmouth Police Department continues to investigate a student who is accused of sending a text message to a classmate threatening to "shoot up the school."

The Portsmouth High School student sent a subsequent text saying he was only kidding, but the report to the assistant principal at 1:20 p.m. May 13 prompted police response and the investigation of the threat.

The student who sent the text was quickly identified and police were alerted that the student had left the school for the afternoon. Police detectives responded to the student's home and questioned him.

"It was determined by the police that the student did not have weapons or access to weapons in his home," according to the Portsmouth Police Department. "When questioned, the student quickly acknowledged that he used poor judgment in sending the text."
 
The Portsmouth Police Department will be investigating further, and will file criminal charges if appropriate.

The Portsmouth School Department will follow standard disciplinary protocol in dealing with this incident.

In a press release prepared by the Portsmouth Police Department and the Portsmouth School Department, and shared with parents, officials stated:

"The police and the school would like to take this opportunity to encourage you, as parents, to have a conversation with your students regarding making any threats of violence through social media or otherwise. We would also like to acknowledge the student who came forward and shared this information with the high school 
administration."