A 16-year-old male is now facing potential felony charges after a series of online threats led to the cancellation of classes at high schools in District 196 and Burnsville on December 16. Law enforcement officials confirmed that an investigation traced multiple social media accounts back to the teenager, prompting his arrest.
The incident has highlighted the serious legal and disciplinary consequences of making threats online, even if there is no intent to carry them out. School districts are now working with parents to reinforce the importance of responsible social media use among students.
Key Takeaways
- A 16-year-old boy was arrested in connection with online threats that shut down multiple South Metro high schools.
- The suspect faces potential felony charges for threats of violence.
- Investigators found no weapons or evidence of a planned attack during a search of the teen's residence.
- The threats involved manipulated online content, including repurposed videos and interactive polls.
- School districts have increased police presence and are urging parents to discuss social media responsibility with their children.
Investigation Leads to Arrest
Authorities moved swiftly after threats began circulating on social media, causing widespread concern among parents and school staff. Apple Valley Police Chief Nick Francis explained the process that led to identifying the suspect.
Investigators executed a search warrant and were able to trace the posts to the 16-year-old. According to Francis, the initial request from his department was for felony threats of violence. The final decision on charges will be made by the Dakota County Attorney's Office.
"Our initial request was felony threats of violence, and then the county attorney is the experts on the applicable charges," Francis stated. "It could be multiple charges, multiple different counts of charges. So but it’s definitely, in our opinion, a felony threat."
The search of the teen's location did not uncover any weapons, manifestos, or other materials suggesting a plan to carry out an attack. Law enforcement officials believe he acted alone. "We believe there’s nobody else responsible for it. He’s the sole person," Francis added.
The Nature of the Online Threats
The social media posts that triggered the school closures were designed to appear highly credible and alarming. They included images of nearly a dozen firearms and specific threats to target various high schools in the South Metro area.
Manipulated Media in Online Threats
Investigators noted the sophisticated, yet deceptive, nature of the online posts. The content was not original but rather repurposed from other online sources. This tactic is often used to make threats appear more genuine and immediate than they actually are. Law enforcement must carefully analyze digital evidence to distinguish between real plans and manipulated content designed to cause fear.
One of the more disturbing elements was the use of interactive polls. The posts included polls where users could vote on which school should be targeted and on what day. This created an illusion of broader involvement, though investigators have found no evidence that other students were complicit.
Chief Francis cautioned that what appears online is not always what it seems. "Just because someone posts a picture or a video of a bunch of guns on a table does not mean they’re the ones that actually took that video," he explained. "It’s very easy for someone, especially teenagers, to locate videos online, change them, edit them, and post them."
As an example, he pointed to a specific detail in one of the videos. "We even heard President Trump being interviewed in the background. That’s just another example of editing, pulling clips from other sources to make threats look more real."
School Districts Respond to Disruption
The threats caused significant disruption for both District 196 and District 191 in Burnsville. On December 16, Burnsville schools initiated a "HOLD" protocol at 11 a.m., requiring students to remain in their classrooms with hallways cleared. By 12:14 p.m., the district decided on an early dismissal for all students.
- 11:00 a.m.: Schools enter a "HOLD" status.
- 12:14 p.m.: The decision is made for an early dismissal.
- 2:00 p.m.: Police confirm suspects are secured and there is no ongoing threat.
Both districts have since communicated extensively with families to provide reassurance and outline the consequences for such actions. In a message to parents, District 196 administrators emphasized that online threats are a violation of the student code of conduct and can result in severe penalties, including suspension, expulsion, and referral to law enforcement.
A spokesperson for the Burnsville School District stated that a separate threat at two middle schools was traced to a student who reportedly wanted to "find a way out of school." Another incident involved an elementary school student who admitted to sending a threatening email.
The district's message to parents was direct. "We want parents and students to know that this kind of behavior is unacceptable and there can be serious consequences... We urge you to talk to your children and make sure they understand it’s unacceptable and dangerous. They may even think they’re acting anonymously, but that isn’t the case."
Legal Consequences and Community Impact
The legal ramifications for the 16-year-old suspect are significant. Dakota County Attorney Kathy Keena confirmed her office is taking the matter very seriously and a charging decision is expected soon.
"The threatened use of gun violence, especially when directed at schools, is taken very seriously by our office. This matter remains under review and a charging decision is expected tomorrow." - Kathy Keena, Dakota County Attorney
To restore a sense of security, police have increased their presence at area schools. This measure is intended to reassure students and staff as normal activities resume. The incident serves as a stark reminder that online actions have real-world consequences that affect the entire community.
Chief Francis issued a stern warning to anyone considering similar actions. "I think the public saw how everyone unanimously understands this is unacceptable behavior, and so every single one of these we get investigated, and if there’s something that’s of a criminal nature, we are pursuing to the best of our ability for that person to be held accountable."
The events underscore a growing challenge for schools and law enforcement: navigating the spread of misinformation and threats on social media platforms, where content can be easily altered and amplified to cause panic and disruption.