Student arrested after making threats on Facebook

Sanford Police Chief Thomas P. Connolly Jr. (Courtesy photo)

SANFORD, Maine - A Sanford teenager was arrested Thursday night after he posted on Facebook that he was contemplating shooting everyone in his class, police say.

A Sanford Police Department press release said that officers received information from a concerned parent around 9 p.m. who said that her child told her a 17 year-old student attending Sanford High School had posted threats on Facebook against classmates. 

Officers responded to the juvenile’s residence, spoke to him and his guardian and determined the threat was credible.

A search of the juvenile’s bedroom didn’t turn up any weapons, but it was discovered he may have had access to other weapons in the residence.

The juvenile was arrested, charged with criminal terrorizing and committed by the JCCO to Long Creek Youth Center. Prior to commitment, he was transported to the hospital for evaluation and is currently in protective custody pending a psychiatric evaluation and disposition.

Police are assuring the public that there is no indication any other people were involved, and the public is in no danger.

Since the threat was neutralized, today’s classes at Sanford High School were not cancelled. Several Sanford Police Officers, along with the High School Resource Officer, were present on campus when school opened.

“The most important aspect of this case is that a student reported her concerns about the suspect’s Facebook posts to her mother, and the mother immediately called the police and alerted us to the threat, ultimately leading to the suspect’s arrest," Sanford Police Chief Thomas P. Connolly Jr. said today. "Since we believe that the suspect had the motive and the means to commit this crime, the student’s and parent’s swift action was crucial in allowing us to close this case.”