Juvenile Arrested For Bomb Threat At Coatesville Area High School

COATESVILLE, PA —A 17-year-old senior was arrested Tuesday on charges of threatening the day before to set Coatesville Area High School on fire by setting off a homemade bomb, officials said.

“Someone has a boom bag full of glass bottles, the glass bottles are full of gas and alcohol and a lot of tissues. He’s gonna light it off at 12,” was the message received on a school website tip line.

No such device was ever found, police said.

However, investigators said the threats led to other problems, with students being evacuated to a football stadium, where a fight broke out. There were also multiple disturbances involving angry, worried parents who were denied access to the school.

School closed on Tuesday for students in grades 8 to 12 as the investigation continued.

The Valley Township juvenile was charged with two counts of threats to use a weapon of mass destruction, terroristic threats and criminal use of a communication facility.

Authorities did not indicate if the prosecution will request the case be transferred to adult court, where the penalties are more stringent.

Following the message, 1,400 students and 250 staffers were evacuated to the high school football stadium.

In the meantime, investigators tracked the threat to the guest Wi-Fi Internet connection at the Technical College High School on Boot Road in Downingtown. The technical school is a public high school operated by the Chester County Intermediate Unit.

Police said they traced the message to the juvenile’s iPhone. Video surveillance from the technical school on Oct. 17 also depicts the juvenile at the school when the threat was made.

A long three weeks

This threat marked the 14th threat or tip of potential violence at the high school in a three-week period from Sept. 29 to Oct. 17.

The threats resulted in lockdowns, evacuations, and the cancellation of school activities including a Friday night homecoming football game Oct. 7.

The investigation included threats of students possessing firearms and threatening to use them at school, bomb threats, and the use of other incendiary devices.

None of the threats materialized, and police determined that each was a false report.

Caln Township Police Chief Joe Elias assured the community that every threat would be taken seriously and thoroughly investigated, and anyone responsible would be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

“The threats continued and culminated in a very dangerous situation at the campus on Monday,” the chief said.

“We trust that this arrest will restore a sense of normalcy to the community and our school district and put anyone on notice who is contemplating similar behavior that it
will be treated with zero tolerance,” the chief said. “We will continue to use every resource at our
disposal to hold them accountable.

Interim superintendent reacts

Dr. Rick Dunlap, interim superintendent, said the district is extremely grateful to the Chester County District Attorney’s Office and to all the local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies that have supported the district through this difficult time.

“We hope this arrest sends a clear message that anyone responsible for making these threats will face serious consequences, both by the judicial system and, if they are a student, our school system,” he said.

Dunlap said the school district is composed of eager and dynamic students who care very deeply about their education.

“We will not allow these disruptions to cast a negative light on our student body,” he said.

Chester County District Attorney Deb Ryan said her office will not tolerate threats of violence against schools, teachers or staff.

“Parents have been anxious and on high alert for three weeks because of persistent and scary threats of violence that have disrupted school and the lives of everyone associated with Coatesville Area High School,” she said,

“My office is determined to ensure the safety of students when they go to school every day,” Ryan said.

The district attorney said an army of law enforcement agencies from Chester County, including Caln township police, the FBI, and the Office of the Attorney General worked tirelessly to determine the source of these threats.

Anyone with information pertaining to the investigation is asked to contact, Chester
County Detectives at 610-344-6866.