How should security be handled with juvenile death threats in the school community?

If they’re not concerned, why should you be?

Kick the person out of school. Draw on them if they come on the property. Public school is enough of a mindfuck without having people threaten to kill each other.

Ask the school if they are waiting for another Columbine to happen…… In this day and age where kids are actually killing other kids threats can’t be kicked under the rug anymore, they have to be taken seriously.

Tell your parents about it, and tell them that the school blew it off. You might also want to make sure that the parents of the kids who the threats are against know. This is one of those things that it’s far better to tell than to keep it to yourself.

If the school is not going to report it to the authorities maybe you should as a concerned parent of a child in the school.

@CaptainHarley, he should be concerned for two reasons—Columbine and Heath High School.

In both of those incidents, other kids knew.

Ok, fair enough. So why not just report the entire incident to the police?

For the love of god, people, please don’t use Columbine that way. It was such an extreme, extreme situation. We’re not talking about one warning sign that the cops missed, but more like a hundred. Please don’t dishonor those who died in it by using them as political martyrs for whatever you see fit. And you can’t live your entire life trying to avoid the worse case scenario.

How was it said? Were they joking? Pissed off, but probably not serious? Was it like “Imma kill you, man” or more like “4:30, tomorrow afternoon, you and the AK47 my uncle bought me are gonna tango”? Is there any indication that the person who said it is a) serious and b) has a plan? Have the friends made up?

Tell someone that would do something about it like your parents.

Unless this person might actually go through with it, unless they have a plan and a way to carry it out… People probably aren’t going to pay attention. Teenagers are such drama queens (even the boys) that people who deal with them on a regular basis know how unlikely it is that a threat is really a threat to someone’s safety.

This is obviously not the school where the little boy got busted for pointing his finger at somebody in a joking way and saying ‘bang.’

People are justly confused about how to handle situations like this. Kids have always used extreme language to one another—and there have always been cases of violence at school—but people seem more unsure than ever before about what to take seriously and what to ignore. It must be incredibly difficult and frustrating to be a school staffer or official of any kind these days.

Do you know for sure that nothing is being done? Unless the students that were threatened speak up, or more witnesses do, the word of one student witness may not be considered enough to act upon. Or maybe the administration is, but the investigation isn’t noticeable from your point-of-view.

@Pied_Pfeffer We checked with the school counselor, and the kid is still in school. What does that tell you?

I’m with @Pied_Pfeffer on this. Just because the kid is still in school, or you haven’t seen anything being done does not mean that things are not going on behind the scenes. The counselor isn’t going to have a freak-out moment in front of a student, and there may be an investigation happening where students can’t see it.

@JilltheTooth The school counselor gave him a shitload of mints for threatening to kill. That doesn’t show very much handling on the situation.

Well, a “shitload of mints” notwithstanding, if you are so convinced that nothing is happening, then notify the police.

@JilltheTooth He’s moving out-of-state sometime soon.

@pshizzle Problem solved!

@MyNewtBoobs Not exactly. My friend (whom he threatened) wants to remain in contact with him. I advised against it, but she’s stubborn, and will end up getting hurt.

@MyNewtBoobs That would be me because he’s still my friend… as twisted as it may be…
Alos he could kill someone there that he gets mad at.

@rock4ever Just leave him alone. Don’t throw him a mini-party like you want to. He is a psychopath, but please, just leave him alone. The horror will be done and over with in 2 days!

@pshizzle Well, it’s not your responsibility to keep her from getting hurt (emotionally), and she can do what she wants. The fear is that he’ll kill someone, unless I’m misunderstanding the question.

@rock4ever Everyone could always hurt someone down the road. But school officials are going to be worried about immediate, definite threats, not the possibility of future threats.

I can’t leave him alone. I’m to intrigued by his mind and thought process. Also I want to help him out, obviously he has problems.

@MyNewtBoobs That’s correct. We are best friends. She just needs to leave the kid alone, and it will dissipate eventually. @rock4ever Just leave it alone!!!!!!!!!!

@rock4ever You can’t help him out; only he can help himself.

@pshizzle No, she needs to do what she decides to do. You aren’t the boss of her; quit acting like it.

@MyNewtBoobs he’s just looking out for me. He’s not bossing me around.
I know I can’t directly help him but I can help him by being there for him.

@pshizzle Ok, so if we’re going to go down the personal attack route, I’m going to leave. I hope it all works out for you guys.

@MyNewtBoobs thanks for trying to help. :)

@pshizzle : If you have an issue with how @rock4ever is handling her self, this is not the place for it, call her or PM her. And lay off attacking the people that are taking the time to answer your question. That’s just rude.

@JilltheTooth rock4ever is my friend. I look out for her, as she would do the same. I don’t think you’re being Ms. Polite yourself.

I’m out, too. Not going to argue etiquette with a 14 year old.

Sorry for his and my behavior this is just really stressful.

Indeed. I apologize, also.

@rock4ever and @pshizzle, I think you two ought to have your discussion in private. It doesn’t require an international audience.

Is this person threatening @rock4ever? Because that is certainly what the way it looks based on the conversation you are having on this thread. A conversation by the way you could easily and more appropriately be having in person if you are truly the best friends you claim to be. @pshizzle if your are convinced that this person is a danger to @rock4ever or anyone else you need to go to the authorities immediately.

I second @Jeruba. This is no place for this discussion.