A 15-year-old Centralia juvenile boy who was a student at Centralia High School was formally charged in Marion County Juvenile Court on Monday with felony disorderly conduct after allegedly making a threat of violence against the school.
Centralia Police had originally arrested the juvenile at the school on Friday for a Class X felony of making a terrorist threat, but State’s Attorney Tim Hudspeth felt the evidence he had at this point better fit as a felony disorderly conduct.
Centralia Police Lieutenant Steve Whritenour said the juvenile had threatened to shoot up the school if he didn’t stop getting picked on. The threat reportedly had been heard by two or more staff members and then repeated during questioning to the assistant principal and the school resource officer who had been called for assistance.
Whritenour says Centralia Police were able to get the student’s Chromebook where there was evidence that he had looked up several concerning items including how to get ammunition. Police felt the searches may have indicated early planning stages of carrying out the threat.
The 15-year-old was sent to the Franklin County Juvenile Detention Facility in Benton on Friday and was ordered to remain there after his first Zoom court appearance on Monday until home confinement could be arranged. The juvenile was also ordered to have no contact with Centralia High School with alternative education to be arranged for him.
Centralia High School Superintendent Chuck Lane issued a statement about the Friday incident saying they take these types of things seriously.
