From The Trussville Tribune staff reports
TRUSSVILLE –Police are investigating an alleged threat by a male student at Hewitt-Trussville Middle School, according to chief Jeff Bridges.
According to the report, a juvenile student allegedly threatened to blow up the school and kill administrators while on the bus last week. Another student reported the incident to their parent who notified school officials today.
Bridges said the school resource officer’s report indicated that the officer was notified after school officials interviewed the student, searched his locker and contacted his parent.
“Our officers were notified of an incident that took place last week and was reported to the school today,” Bridges said. “We’re are still investigating. When the investigation is complete, we’ll turn it over to the District Attorney.”
“I can confirm that Ms. Berry reported to me that a middle school student made an inappropriate comment and wished he had a gun,” superintendent Pattie Neill said. “The student was suspended pending a Class III hearing and the SRO was involved immediately.”
The incident in Trussville is one of many reported locally and across the country since 17 people were gunned down at a school in Parkland, Fla. last week. Law enforcement is investigating similar threats at Springville High School and Shades Valley High School.
“In all of our schools, we employ every possible safety precaution and take all comments seriously,” Neill said. “We also have a procedure for threat assessment that involves law enforcement. Students who make inappropriate comments related to violence are removed from school by the principal. This has been our procedure within our Code of Conduct for years, but it is more sensitive now because of recent violence in schools across the nation.”