UPDATE:
On Friday, State Troopers from Chambersburg arrested a 17-year-old man from Southhampton Township for making terroristic threats.
On Thursday, a man contacted the FBI because he was a threat to 'shoot up' three Cumberland County elementary schools in an online char toom.
The FBI, with help from State Police, were able to trace the threats back to the teen.
The teen admitted to making the post, but said he did not mean to harm anyone and was just trying to increase conversation in the chat room.
Charges were filed with the Franklin County Juvenile Probation office.
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Carlisle Police Department informed CBS 21 Thursday evening that the person who made the comments referring to a gun or possible violence in a Carlisle-area elementary school has been identified.
The threat was not credible and the person who made the comments online does not have any weapons. The person was also not capable of carrying out such threats.
Authorities are still investigating the incident and there is no reason for members of the public or students, staff or parents to be concerned.
The investigation has been conducted by Carlisle Police, PSP and the FBI.
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After an unspecified threat was posted on a chat room early Thursday, numerous school districts in Cumberland County beefed up security at their elementary schools.
School officials from across the western part of the county worked together with local police and State Police to determine what to do. Those schools included Cumberland Valley, Carlisle, Big Spring and South Middletown School Districts, along with Saint Patrick’s School, Carlisle Christian Academy and Grace Baptist.
Ultimately the decision was made that the threat, which came from out of state, was not credible.
An investigation into the threat is underway.
Big Spring School District posted the following information on their website:
Dear Big Spring Families,
Safety of our students and staff is our number one priority. Please be advised that Cumberland Valley, Carlisle, Big Spring, and South Middleton School Districts along with St. Patrick School, Carlisle Christian Academy and Grace Baptist have been working closely to provide an increased law enforcement presence in and around our elementary buildings. The added presence was following notification received by Carlisle Area School District from local law enforcement of a non-specific threat, generated in a chat room, out of state, of a possible shooting at an elementary school in the Carlisle area. Please be assured that there was no credible evidence to substantiate this information. However, we requested the police presence to conduct safety checks throughout the day.
Working together with law enforcement, neighboring districts and the non-public schools demonstrates the value of having relationships in place to address these types of threats throughout the county.
The release of information at this time supports the ongoing law enforcement investigation. All buildings continue to operate on a normal schedule today.
