Police: Mundelein Students Charged in Columbine Threat Had Ammunition
Two 13-year-old Mundelein students were charged after making online threats that referenced the Columbine school shooting.
A police investigation found one of the students had provided the other with ammunition.
Two 13-year-old middle school students at Fremont Middle School District 79 were charged Sunday after one of the minors posted threatening messages to SnapChat that referenced the Columbine school shooting.
One of the students was charged in relation to the messages and the other provided firearm ammunition, reports The Patch.
Lake County Sheriff’s officials said they received information on Thursday regarding messages directed at other students at the Mundelein, Ill., school. An investigation determined the messages were sent by one of the two 13-year-olds, referred to in court documents as juvenile #1.
Detectives spoke to the juvenile accused of sending the messages and the student said he sent them as a joke. However, detectives discovered ammunition in the minor’s possession that had been supplied by the second student, referred to as juvenile #2.
When asked how the second student acquired ammunition, Sheriff’s spokesman Christopher Covelli said investigators believe the bullets were left by a relative who previously lived in the home, according to The Chicago Tribune.
Neither juvenile had any firearms in their possession during the investigation but officials said juvenile #1 stole a firearm from a family member a year ago before throwing it into a body of water. The firearm was later recovered by a family member.
Both students were arrested and taken to the Hulse Juvenile Detention Facility in Vernon Township. Juvenile #1 has been charged with disorderly conduct, unlawful possession of ammunition and unlawful possession of a firearm. Juvenile #2 has been charged with unlawful possession of ammunition.
The Sheriff’s office said it is working closely with school administrators to provide extra security at the school as a precaution.
In a statement posted to the district’s Facebook page Sunday night, Superintendent Bill Robertson said counseling staff and school administrators will be available for student questions.
An email sent to parents Monday morning said the two students will not be allowed on campus during the criminal investigation.
The email also outlined security procedures implemented on campus, including the use of security cameras, radio communications, shatter-resistant glass, supplemental door locks and a visitor management system.
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About the Author
Amy Rock, Executive Editor
Amy is Campus Safety’s Executive Editor. Prior to joining the editorial team in 2017, she worked in both events and digital marketing.
Amy has many close relatives and friends who are teachers, motivating her to learn and share as much as she can about campus security. She has a minor in education and has worked with children in several capacities, further deepening her passion for keeping students safe.
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Having been involved with asking security questions at my daughter’s school district many years ago what intrigues me most is the issue of visitor management. In many schools this means a sign that says “all visitors must report to the principal’s office.” Clearly this is useless as a visitor management system in the same way “no firearms” signs are useless. People intent in doing harm will obviously ignore these signs and directions. On the other hand signs that indicate “staff is armed” or “police on premises”, etc. will not be ignored because the potential perpetrator will seek a softer target.
Twenty years ago my daughter was instructed to run and get out of the school at the first sign of trouble which, after investigation, I had determined was the best course of action because there was no coherent threat management procedure in place.
Clearly the type of entry which limits access is one in which a visitor seeking entrance is identified and queried as to their business remotely before being buzzed in by staff from a secure location. While this system is not efficient for passing large numbers of students it does work for individuals.
I really like to car rental they provide the car in the budget.