Internet notes on shootings bring arrest of 15-year-old

9/28/2001

A 15-year-old Perrysburg High School sophomore was charged yesterday with aggravated menacing after he sent messages about shooting a student and shooting up the school during an online chat, Perrysburg police said.

The messages were sent to a 14-year-old freshman girl Wednesday night.

Officers arrested the teenager yesterday morning after the girl's mother notified the assistant principal, leading him to call to police.

“We pulled him from his classroom and questioned him about the facts, and he admitted all of them,” Principal John Pertner said. The teenager was suspended immediately. “We will have a recommendation for expulsion,” Dr. Pertner said.

“The positive thing about this is that a parent was supervising her child on the Internet,” he said. “We [were] able to act on facts, and no harm came to anyone.”

School officials searched the boy's locker, and police got a search warrant and seized his computer and searched his home, police said.

Officers found a pellet gun.

The incident renewed calls for parents to pay more attention to their children and their activities.

“Our schools are safe places,” Perrysburg police Lt. Richard Gilts said. “Parents need to monitor their children's Internet activities and other communications.”

Lieutenant Gilts said that all school threats will be taken seriously and the department will “pursue all criminal charges available.”