Photo: Getty Images
SALEM, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — On Friday, the Salem Police Department received multiple 9-1-1 calls that threatened to stage a shooting at Collins Middle School.
Though officials assessed the threats and concluded they were not credible, police presence at Salem Schools increased throughout the day out of an abundance of caution. Between the Friday night and Saturday morning, the SPD said they received over 20 anonymous calls that threatened acts of violence, even taunting police to try and catch them.
Because of the high volume of calls, several were routed to the Marblehead Police Department.
Read More: Cambridge Gun Buy-Back Collects More Than 200 Firearm Parts In First Hour
After investigation, officials found the calls had come from a deactivated cell phone that was still capable of dialing 9-1-1. Based on information gleaned from the threatening calls, the SPD investigators were able to get a general location of the callers and identified three Salem resident juveniles as suspects early Saturday morning.
Police say all three juveniles will be charged for making threatening calls.
"The Salem Police Department takes any threats directed against our schools and our school children seriously and criminal behavior such as the anonymous 9-1-1 calls will be thoroughly investigated," a statement from the SPD read.
Follow WBZ NewsRadio: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | iHeartmedia App