By CHAT News Today

Student charged following threatening social media post

Oct 10, 2017 | 5:04 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB — A 13-year-old student is facing a charge following a threatening social media post made to a local school.

According to police, they became aware of a social media post Tuesday morning concerning an alleged threat towards St. Mary’s School the night before.

Police quickly identified the student and attended the school, locating the male teen. The immediate threat was resolved, and there was no disruption of the normal school day.

“Anytime a student poses a threat to themselves, or someone else, we kind of get together and bring everyone to the table and find out why and what’s going on and how best we can mobilize resources and help the student,” said Sergeant Mike Fischer.

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“Sometimes kids cry for help, sometimes kids cry louder than others,” said Hugh Lehr with the Medicine Hat Catholic School Board. “Our role is to be there to listen and to provide the right supports to benefit the family, the student and the school.”

The division activated a Violent Threat Risk Assessment in response to the alleged threat.

“You get the people around the table that know the student, including the parents, to find out is it credible. Can they actually go through with the threat? In this case, not even close,” Lehr said.

“If this young man could take back what he had said, he would in a heartbeat,” Fischer added.

Parents of students in the Medicine Hat Catholic School Division were notified of the incident via a letter sent home with all students in the division at the end of the school day.

The boy, who cannot be named, was charged with uttering death threats.

Police are reminding the public to immediately report any information which appears to be threatening in nature by calling 9-1-1 or 403-529-8481.