Video Surfaces Of Northwood Middle Students With Guns: Report

ELYRIA, OH — Elyria police searched Northwood Middle School on Friday morning after social media video showed some students with guns, local media outlets reported.

The search comes the same day law enforcement agencies and school officials remain on high alert nationwide following recent reports of a TikTok challenge that has encouraged students to threaten gun violence at their schools on Friday, Dec. 17.

Eighteen minutes away from Elyria in Avon, police acknowledged via Twitter that they, too, were aware of the threats and are taking them seriously.

"The Avon Lake Police Department is aware of the viral social media trend regarding threats of school violence associated with 12-17-21. Avon Lake has not received a threat at this time. ALPD is monitoring the situation and will take appropriate precautions if deemed necessary," the department posted.

While it's unclear where the December rumor originated, a news release issued by the Tooele County School District in Utah said the original threat started as a way for students to skip school, but "morphed into something much more disturbing."

Elyria police Chief Bill Pelko told The Chronicle that the students in the video have been identified and their parents had been notified. No one, however, has been taken into custody.

According to the newspaper, no threats were made directly to Northwood or any other Elyria school building.

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• TikTok December 17 Challenge Has Police, Schools On High Alert