Two 15-year-old boys were charged Wednesday after they told police they posted threats about a school shooting in an online chat group in an attempt to get another student in trouble.
The two teens were taken into custody at Lincoln Way East High School around noon Wednesday and questioned at the Will County Sheriff’s Investigation Division.
Police said both boys made statements indicating they posted threats to a chat group “to get another juvenile into trouble.”
“The boys made statements that they never intended to harm anyone,” police said in a release.
The teens were charged with felony disorderly conduct and more charges were pending. They are expected to appear in court Thursday.
The FBI alerted the Will County Sheriff’s office Tuesday night that they had received a tip about a school shooting threat at Lincolnway East High School, located at 201 Colorado in Frankfort Township.
Sheriff deputies and school administrators conducted a search of the high school but no evidence was found.
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A 15-year-old student was identified as a possible offender, but police searched the teen’s home and found no firearms or explosives. Police said the threat appeared to be a hoax and that the teen initially suspected in the incident was not the sender of the threatening message.
In addition, a chat group post from a Chicago news organization reporting numerous injuries occurred at “Frankfort High School” was also deemed to be false, the sheriff’s office said. It was not clear who the originator of the post was but police say an investigation is ongoing.
Extra deputies are at the school Wednesday, according to the sheriff’s office.
