RCMP respond to false school shooting threat

On Feb. 16, Chestermere RCMP responded to a report that a student at Chestermere Lake Middle School may have been planning a school shooting.
After a thorough investigation policed determined that the reported threat to conduct a school shooting was, “false and completely made up.”
“False reports of such events are not a joke and can lead to criminal consequences as was the case today,” said Chestermere RCMP Detachment Commander Staff Sgt. Mark Wielgosz.
The investigation occurred after administration at Chestermere Lake Middle School were alerted at about 11:15 a.m. that a student may have been planning a school shooting.
Police were immediately called.
After investigation, police found that a student in another Chestermere school had reported overhearing the threat.
After investigation, RCMP found that the student who had allegedly been planning the shooting did not have access to firearms.
“The investigation conclusively determined the threat to conduct a school shooting was false and completely made up,” said police in a press release.
Police are continuing to investigate the incident but stated that a charge of Public Mischief will be pursued against the youth who made the false report and accusation.
RCMP said that false allegations of this nature are serious since until they are deemed false, significant police resources are committed and there is potential to cause large scale panic with the public.
“The Chestermere RCMP would like to stress all complaints involving school violence are treated with extreme seriousness and are met with an immediate response,” said Wielgosz.