Union-Endicott High School Threat Suspect Taken Into Custody

Authorities say a teenager is suspected of making an online threat targeting Union-Endicott High School.

Endicott police announced Thursday afternoon that a 15-year-old juvenile had been taken into custody for the crime of making a terroristic threat.

According to village police, a high school student received a social media message indicating the school "would be the target of an unspecified threat to do harm to the school." A similar threat was posted on social media.

Police Chief Patrick Garey said his department was advised of the situation by the school district shortly before 6 p.m. Wednesday. He said the message had been posted on Instagram and possibly other social media platforms.

An investigation concluded the threat was a prank. Police determined there was no plan in place or intent to actually harm anyone. The student who received the threat was not involved in the prank.

Garey said Endicott police made arrangements with the Broome County and Tioga County sheriff's departments and the New York State Police to provide coverage to all U-E school district locations outside the village.

The school district and Endicott police worked together to investigate the threat.

Garey said village police investigators "had good leads" early Thursday morning leading to the teenager believed to have been responsible for posting the threat. He said Meta - the company which operates Instagram - assisted police in the investigation.

Future proceedings involving the suspect will be handled by Broome County Family Court.

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Contact WNBF News reporter Bob Joseph: bob@wnbf.com. For breaking news and updates on developing stories, follow @BinghamtonNow on Twitter.