Photo: Getty Images
NORWOOD, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — Norwood Police arrested a 12-year-old middle school student in connection with a mass shooting threat at Coakley Middle School, authorities announced Sunday.
Police began investigating the threat on Friday when they received a screenshot of a group text that warned of a shooting that would take place at the school. The beginning portion of the message was cropped out, according to police. They later found out the cropped part of the message was warning of an event to occur Monday, police said.
According to police, one of the numbers in the group text was unknown, but the others belonged to students. Officers began questioning the students to help determine the identity of the unknown number.
Read More: Man Shot And Killed By Police In Rochester, New Hampshire
Police said the message contained some details which led detectives to believe that the person who sent it had some knowledge of the middle school. The message also had passing references to an "army" and alluded to the motive having to do with an event 17 years ago, though they were not otherwise explained. The message also warned that the phone number could not be traced.
During Friday's investigation, another text began to circulate to the effect that Norwood High School was next, police said. Authorities determined the second message was spoofed to appear that it came from the original number, but have verified through the provider that it did not. Police said they did not give credence to that remark.
On Friday, Norwood Police told parents they were confident these threats were non-credible. They sent additional officers to both schools Friday to help reassure the student population of their safety and to support the schools.
Police updated parents on social media Saturday, saying, "We stand firmly by our statement that the threat is not credible, but this case is still our number one priority and we continue to work it actively over the weekend. Please understand that we cannot provide more detail just yet."
The department added that both plainclothes and uniformed officers would be at the middle school Monday to assure students they were safe.
According to police, detectives immediately began working to identify the source of the number. Although an effort had been made to mask its origin, detectives soon traced sufficient information and believed they had identified the source of the text.
Police said detectives were certain by 10:30 a.m. that they had identified the student who sent the message, and spoke with the student briefly by phone. The student was traveling out of state with family at the time.
The student and his family had returned to Norwood by Sunday. Police obtained and executed a search warrant for the student's home, seizing a cell phone and arresting the student, authorities said.
Police said the student confessed with family present, there were no firearms in the student's home, and the student will not be in class Monday.
"As we have previously stated, we enjoy a strong working relationship with Norwood Public Schools and are pleased that we have been able to bring this investigation to a successful conclusion," Norwood Police said.
Follow WBZ NewsRadio: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | iHeartmedia App | TikTok