Roosevelt students face felony charges after making threats against school

ROOSEVELT, Utah — Three Roosevelt, Utah students are facing felony charges after reportedly making threats against their school. Specifically, the students suggested they would be participating in “bring your gun to school day”.

This comes days after two guns were found in Salt Lake City high schools, East High and West High, in the course of a week, and a social media trend on TikTok encouraged violence in schools across the nation on Dec. 17.

Roosevelt City Police Chief Mark J. Watkins released a statement, saying the students were arrested for “sharing, commenting and or encouraging school violence.”

The three students now charged with felonies reportedly shared comments and messages about school violence. 

Despite the school threats, there was nothing credible

Chief Watkins said his department’s investigation found no imminent threat to any of the schools in the area. No guns were found in any of the city’s schools.

“The Roosevelt Police Department will have zero tolerance for such acts and will continue to monitor and aggressively follow up on posts or verbal comments made by individuals if they promote or encourage this kind of behavior,” Chief Watkins wrote in a press release posted on Facebook.

Chief Watkins says the parents of those students have been cooperative and understand the position of law enforcement.

Keeping tabs on children and social media

“I would encourage all parents to talk to their kids about this type of behavior,” Chief Watkins said. “And its consequences, as well as monitor their child’s texting and social media activities.”

Chief Watkins says any questionable text or social media post should be brought to the attention of authorities, immediately. 

“Our children deserve to have a safe, worry-free school environment, Chief Watkins said. “And we are dedicated to the preservation of school safety in all our schools in our city.”

Read more:

• Trend in threats of violence to schools traced to TikTok
• South Jordan police warn parents about new TikTok challenge
• Murray students to pay restitution for TikTok challenge damages
• Missing teen rescued after making a hand gesture she learned from TikTok to signal for help

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