Material on the students’ cell phones is under review.
Middletown, Md. (KM) – The Frederick County Sheriff’s Office is continuing its investigation of threats made against Black students at Middletown Middle School.
Authorities say they interviewed each of the students who are suspected in this threat, along with their parents and/or guardians. Deputies also searched the students’ bedrooms and accounted for all firearms. They determined that several of the firearms in the pictures posted on social media were fake.
At the request of deputies, each of the students voluntarily surrendered their cell phones, the contents of which have been downloaded. and are under review. Investigators determined that someone took the photos in January and February, and posted them on social media platforms Instagram and Snapchat. .
“The FCSO {Frederick County Sheriff’s Office} has been in consultation with the State’s Attorney’s Office Juvenile Division, and we are need our communities’ help. We are asking if any student received one of the photos from one of the students pictured in the photo to contact FCSO SRO {School Resource Officer} Deputy 1st Class Andy Smothers at 301-600-7138 or [email protected],” says Lt. Jason Deater, the School Resource Officer Commander, in a statement. . “We are not releasing the juvenile’s names who are involved but we can confirm if someone comes forward stating they received the photo.”
At around 9:00 AM on Wednesday, deputies and the school resource officer responded to Middletown Middle School for social medial threats posted against the school’s Black students. Authorities say they were able to work with school administrators and were able to identify multiple suspects.
The school was not evacuated and no lockdown was ordered.
School System officials notified the Middletown Middle School community through Find Out First about what was happening, and said there was no threat to the community.
By Kevin McManus