A 13-year-old male student from Lockport has been charged by Lockport police in connection with a school threat against Aaron Mossell Junior High School.
The teenager was arrested on December 20 and charged with threatening mass harm.
According to a press release from the Lockport Police Department, the reported threats were posted on a social media platform on December 7. The report indicated the student had a firearm, but Lockport Chief Steven Abbott said no such weapon was found. The threat was investigated without impacting classes at the school.
What can be taken away from this, according to Abbott, is that “there are consequences for your actions.”
“You think you won’t be charged with it, but you will be charged with it. You think your age matters, but it doesn’t matter. If you think you won’t get caught, think again,” he said.
Abbott said there were far fewer school-related threats in Lockport in 2024 than the year before, largely due to the response of local, state and even national law enforcement.
In 2023, Abbott said that “swatting raids,” or false reports made to get a response from heavily armed tactical police units known as SWAT teams, triggered significantly more investigations than threats in 2024. FBI investigations and eventual creation of a National Database for Such Attacks tracked dozens of such threats in New York State, including Lockport.
Abbott said he believed taking such incidents seriously would curtail potential swatters and other individuals making these threats.
“The lesson is starting to become clear,” he said.
Abbott said the student in this threat was found at his home and the case has been referred to New York State Family Court. The case is still ongoing, but according to the press release, the student has been issued a juvenile appearance ticket.
