Two Highland Students Arrested for Making Terroristic Threats

Two Highland students have been arrested for making terroristic threats against the school.

The two students were arrested Wednesday afternoon by Salt Lake City Police and were taken to juvenile detention.

Police received a tip about an alleged shooting, which was to be taken place Friday, around 4:30 p.m. Wednesday. Immediately, the two students were found and interviewed. Their bedrooms and lockers were searched. No plausible evidence suggesting that the two students would have carried out the threat were found, however.

“It was a hoax,” Principal Chris Jenson said.

The identities of the students involved have remained anonymous.

Highland is safe and in a large part due to a single student’s bravery.

A particular student alerted her parent after she was made aware of the supposed shooting plan. Through social media, a conversation between the two arrested sat uneasy with her. The information was plausible and therefore, action was taken.

“The student did the right thing and told her parents who then called the police,” Jenson said.

In this case, the student who disclosed the intended act was incredibly resolute.

With social media playing such a pivotal role in society, anything is public. To make a threat, an individual doesn’t have to directly address the school. Such information can leak in other ways and that’s exactly what happened.

Wednesday night, Highland school officers and Salt Lake Police worked tirelessly to ensure the safety of Highland, the students and the staff. There was great communication between Jenson and the police.

“We need to stay vigilant,” Jenson said.

Early Thursday morning, administrators searched the grounds ensuring no one was in danger. The building was found safe and so school proceeded as usual, but with extra precautions. For the next few days and most likely for the rest of the school year, Highland will enforce extra security. All the doors will remain locked excluding the two main entrances. The faculty will remain vigilant.

“Even though we know the threat was a joke, we’re still going to be cautious,” Jenson said. “Our number one priority is to make sure [Highland students and staff] are safe. The very best that we can do is what we’re going to do.”

There is a lesson to be taken out of the circumstance. A student spoke up.

“A student saw something and said something,” Jenson said. “See something, say something.”

Ultimately, the very act kept Highland safe.

“We’re safe,” Jenson said.