MARRIOTT-SLATERVILLE CITY, UTAH – November 3, 2015 (Gephardt Daily) – Charges have been filed in Juvenile Court against two of the three students suspected of plotting a possible school shooting at the Venture Academy.
In a press released issued by Weber County Sheriff’s office, the main suspect in the case is identified as a 15-year-old male who is suspected of trying to obtain ammunition for a gun with plans of doing a drive-by shooting at the school.
He was charged this week with one count of threats of violence. He was never interviewed by detectives because one of his parents invoked their right to an attorney. Detectives were also never able to locate a gun.
Two other 15-year-old boys were allegedly involved in the plot. When they were detained by school officials, one of them was in possession of a knife and razor blades and has since been charged with one count of possession of a dangerous weapon by a minor. The second juvenile was in possession of a .22-caliber magazine and ammunition but because those items do not constitute possession of a dangerous weapon, he has not been charged with a crime.
The plot unfolded when a tip from a concerned student at a Weber County school alerted administration at the school of a possible plan by another student to do a drive-by shooting at the school. The scheme allegedly involved three students.
The three 15-year-old boys were immediately detained by school officials and the Sheriff’s Office was called to investigate. Two of the juveniles implicated their friend as having a plot to acquire ammunition for a gun so he could do a “drive-by and shoot up the school.”
The boy who was found in possession of a loaded magazine said the clip had been given to him by his friend in hopes of finding ammunition for it and the boy who was found in possession of the knife and blades claimed to also have knowledge of the plan.
All three students were suspended from the school and released to their parents. A security sweep was conducted of the premises at the time of the incident by deputies.
“This case serves as a good remainder of the threats we are facing in society as far as safeguarding our children in our schools, and how important it is for students to come forward with information when they hear something suspicious or disconcerting.”
The school also sent out the following release to parents, which serves as its official statement.
