Oak Lawn police said Monday that three juveniles have been charged in connection with recent threats of violence made to schools.
The charges come following investigations in Oak Lawn and Palos Hills of unfounded bomb threats posted to social media. Oak Lawn police said their investigation was aided from assistance by the Federal Bureau of Investigations.
In a news release, Oak Lawn police said that one of the juveniles is a student at Oak Lawn Community High School and the other two are students at Oak Lawn-Hometown Middle School in Oak Lawn.
The release doesn’t specify what they have been charged with other than saying they have been referred to the juvenile court system and face disciplinary action at their respective schools.
“The students did not realize the seriousness of their actions, thinking it was only a prank,” Oak Lawn police Chief Dan Vittorio said in the news release.
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Police did not immediately respond to a request for more details, such as the specific charges.
Three school districts last week said that bomb threats posted to social media such as Snapchat disrupted activities and prompted precautions such as soft lockdowns.
Among schools targeted were Richards High School in Oak Lawn and Oak Lawn Community High School, as well as Stagg High School in Palos Hills.
In a message sent Nov. 9 to families at Oak Lawn Community High School, Principal Jeana Lietz promised swift action against those responsible for the threats, including, apart from criminal charges, potential expulsion.
Threats directed to Stagg were received Nov. 5 and Nov. 8, and Stagg Principal Eric Olsen told families in a message Nov. 8 expressed frustration about the apparently benign posts.
“The ease at which one can disrupt a school community with a social media post is a reality we have dealt with as a society for the last several years,” he wrote. “Individuals who repost, screenshot and reshare or add to these types of social media threats contribute to the further spread of fear and anxiety.”
Vittorio said police were asking that parents talk with their children “and let them know the consequences of their actions and pranks like these jeopardize school safety and can cause undue stress for their fellow students, teachers, and the community as a whole.”