Sept. 22 – Two days after a teenager was arrested and charged with making threats against the Newton School District and a day after a student threatened a teacher, police have arrested another teenager who was also accused of threatening a school shooting and injuring a student in their home.
According to a press release from the Newton Police Department, on September 20 at 4:43 p.m., officers were notified of a juvenile threatening to shoot at a school and shot another student in their residence. After several interviews, the teen was located and taken into custody without incident.
The student’s identity has not been released. He has since been transferred to the Central Iowa Juvenile Detention in Eldora, the same facility where the teen who threatened to shoot up the school last week was sent. Like that minor, he has also been charged.
Police have charged this minor with terroristic threats (class D felony) and first-degree intimidation (serious offense).
Superintendent Tom Messinger addressed this latest threat in a message to Cardinal families on ParentSquare, saying that two possible school threat reports had been made to Safe+Sound Iowa, an app that allows users to anonymously submit tips about potential threats to schools.
“One turned out to be a conversation about a threat from earlier in the week,” he said. “The other turned out to be a threat, which led to charges.”
As with the previous alleged threat, Messinger wanted to thank the individuals who reported the situations. This level of support and cooperation, he said, is necessary to maintain the highest level of safety and security for the community. Messinger also thanked the Newton Police Department for their quick and thorough response.
“We are fortunate to have a community and supportive agencies in the community that are so committed to our school district,” Messinger said.
