School violence, whether it’s mass shootings or bomb threats, poses an ongoing threat to students. Increases in attacks in recent decades, especially, have prompted school districts and local authorities to take any inkling of a threat seriously. In fact, an Ohio third grader now faces a criminal charge after making several bomb threats.
The unnamed elementary student is in hot water after her actions came to light. During the current school year, the third grader allegedly made multiple false bomb threats via social media. She is looking at serious consequences despite her young age.
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The Ohio third-grade student used Facebook to make bomb threats.
The unnamed student at Vincent’s Elementary School allegedly used a fake Facebook account to make two bomb threats. In her messages, she claimed bombs were planted inside Clearview High School and Durling Middle School in Lorain, WOIO reported. The information came from the Lorain County Sheriff’s Office.
Following the threats, the entire district shut down.
On December 12, 2024, all of the Clearview Local School District schools shut down because of the bomb threat, People reported. Deputies searched schools for a bomb as a precaution, although they didn’t find any credible threats. Schools were back in session at Clearview and Durling the next day.
The girl now faces a criminal charge.
The unnamed third grader has been charged with inducing panic, WOIO reported. Sheriff’s deputies were able to trace the fake Facebook account back to her. In addition to the December bomb threat, she reportedly made another threat in September.
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Additionally, she was referred to a juvenile court assessment center.
Thus far, the girl’s parents do not face any charges, People reported. Clearview Schools Superintendent Jerome Davis told WOIO that a magistrate referred the third-grade student to Hamilton County Juvenile Court Assessment Center.
A local middle-school coach and parent of a student reacted to the news.
“I almost didn’t think it was real, to be honest, to have someone that young,” Jacob Kyle, a seventh-grade coach at Durling Middle School, told WOIO.
He added, “I blame it mostly on the social media aspect because a lot of things go through social media and word travels fast and as you can see someone can have a threat just like that and it can go downhill. I don’t think that anyone under 18 should have it to be honest, but that’s just me.”
“It’s really sad,” the mom of a Durling student told the news outlet. “I think that parents should have a little more involvement in what their kids are doing. Third grade, they know the consequences, we talk about it, but this is the second time I believe I’ve heard that she’s done it.”
She continued, “I definitely think parents need to be more involved in social media. Third grade shouldn’t even have social media in my opinion.”
