A former suburban high school student has been charged with threatening to kill another student via Facebook Messenger as the 20th anniversary of the Columbine massacre approaches.
Police in Lombard say that 18-year-old Jaris McCullum has been charged with felony Disorderly Conduct and Harassment through Electronic Communications after he allegedly messaged a female student at Glenbook East High School and threatened to kill her boyfriend and harm her.
According to DuPage County prosecutors, McCullum threatened to show up at the school, and that he sent a photo showing himself wearing all black and holding a firearm to a female student at the school.
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The former student is also alleged to have sent several threatening messages, including one that said “I really shoot” and “I got (expletives deleted) who don’t like you that’ll pay to get rid of you,” according to prosecutors.
McCullum was taken into custody after the threats were reported to the Lombard Police Student Resource Officer.
“Tomorrow marks the 20th anniversary of one of the most horrific events in American history, the Columbine school shootings, an anniversary that serves as a sad reminder to us all of us about the possible dangers that unfortunately, our children and school personnel must consider each day,” DuPage County States Attorney Robert Berlin said. “As I have said in the past, any threat or even the hint of a threat to our schools will be fully investigated and anyone suspected of such behavior will be held accountable.
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McCullum’s next court appearance is scheduled for May 13, and bond was set at $75,000 for the former student.
