For Immediate Release

Friday, Feb. 16, 2018

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: john@jgpr.net

*JOINT RELEASE*

Two Rockland High School Students Arrested After Allegedly Making Threats

ROCKLAND – Superintendent of Schools Alan Cron and Police Chief John R. Llewellyn report that two freshmen at Rockland High School have been arrested for allegedly threatening to commit acts of violence at the school on Friday afternoon.

TWO JUVENILE MALES, AGE 14 AND 15, BOTH FROM ROCKLAND, were arrested by the Rockland Police Department as a result. They were charged with:

• Making Terroristic Threats
• Disturbing a School Assembly

At 1:25 p.m., Rockland Police were notified that two males, claiming to be Rockland High School students, had called a Boston television news station and told the station that they planned to harm people at their school. The news station called the police, and an investigation was launched immediately.

Both of the students allegedly responsible for the threat were identified, located and arrested within 30 minutes of their initial phone call to the television station.

Out of an abundance of caution, all school facilities in Rockland sheltered in place during the investigation. Once the Rockland Police Department determined that the situation was resolved, the order was lifted. Students are being dismissed in the usual manner today.

Superintendent Cron praised the quick work of all involved.

“The Rockland Police Department acted quickly to respond to this threat, and the individuals are in custody,” Superintendent Cron said. “I am very pleased that our faculty and staff and the police department worked closely this afternoon, following all of the policies and procedures we have in place in the event of an emergency. What matters most is that no one was harmed today.”

The investigation remains ongoing. At this time, it is not known if the threat was credible. The names of the suspects cannot be released due to their ages. The 15-year-old suspect was taken to a local hospital for an evaluation. The suspects will be held and will likely be arraigned in Hingham Juvenile Court on Tuesday.

“I am very proud of the effort put forth today by our officers and school officials,” Chief Llewellyn said. “Thanks to an aggressive investigation, and in no small part thanks to the close working relationship between the Rockland Police Department and Rockland Public Schools, these suspects were identified quickly and arrested.”

These are allegations. All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty.

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