LakeView Technology Academy student arrested for school threat involving Instagram photo
PLEASANT PRAIRIE -- An 18-year-old female student at LakeView Technology Academy was arrested in connection with a threat to the school Wednesday, Feb. 27.
Police said photo(s) of a male relative holding a firearm were forwarded via Instagram by the female student with a comment "of a threatening nature alluding to a possible act of violence that would take place at the school" on Wednesday. Authorities were alerted by other classmates.
Police responded to the school, and the 18-year-old student was taken into custody. An investigation revealed no active threat to the school.
LakeView Technology Academy
Pleasant Prairie police noted in a news release the department "takes all threats of violence such as this seriously and will commit all available resources in the investigation of such crimes. Individuals involved in this type of behavior will be held accountable for their actions."
"There are no off-handed remarks, and this is how serious these investigations are going to go," said Chief David Smetana, Pleasant Prairie Police Department. "We believe the intent was to cause some panic and cause some fear. It did that. We are absolutely committed and willing to commit those resources to investigate these types of crimes, and we're going to investigate them to the fullest. This is another senseless act of intimated violence, at this point, that didn't have to happen."
Chief Smetana credited the other students at school for coming forward after seeing the post -- and saying something about it.
A Kenosha Unified School District spokeswoman issued this statement to FOX6 News:
"This morning, LakeView Academy administration was made aware of a threat of possible gun violence made via social media. Upon learning of the social media post, we immediately launched an investigation with the Pleasant Prairie Police Department. Thanks to collaboration between staff and the PPPD, the people responsible were quickly discovered and detained by the police. At that point, the police determined it was not an active threat and school continued as usual for the remainder of the day."
Anyone with further information was asked to contact the Pleasant Prairie Police Department at 262-694-7353.
Meanwhile, FOX6 News was told charges were referred to the district attorney.