CHILLICOTHE, Ohio – After more than a month of waiting, the Chillicothe Police Department has released a detailed report on a threats incident involving a 12-year-old student at the Chillicothe Middle School. The report documents a September 18, 2024 incident in which the student, a seventh-grader, allegedly threatened to bring a gun to school and shoot a classmate following a classroom disagreement. According to school staff and police records, the situation arose when the classmate reportedly turned off the student’s Chromebook, prompting the alleged threat.
The report states that the incident came to light when another student overheard the threat and reported it to their teacher, who subsequently informed the Dean of Students. In the incident report, the Dean noted that, when questioned, the student initially denied making the statement but later admitted to saying, “I said it.” The Dean further reported that, during the conversation, the student explicitly stated, “I’m going to bring a gun to school and shoot,” and “I have a gun.”
Upon being notified, Chillicothe Police School Resource Officers (SROs) contacted the student’s father, who confirmed that firearms were accessible in the home, including an AR-15 rifle that had reportedly been a Christmas gift for the child. The father stated that the AR-15 was kept in a closet without a secure lock. According to the report, he also acknowledged possessing a pistol, which he carries daily but also lacks a secured storage setup at home. The father explained that the student lives with him full-time, as there is no formal custody agreement with the student’s mother.
The student’s mother later arrived at the school, where she reportedly acknowledged the seriousness of the threat but expressed doubt that her child would act on it. According to the report, she also confirmed that the student primarily lives with the father for ease of transport to school. During the interview, officers discovered she had an active warrant from the Ross County Sheriff’s Office, leading to her arrest.
Given the nature of the statements, Chillicothe Police contacted a magistrate, who approved an Inducing Panic charge against the student. The report notes that the student was subsequently transported to juvenile detention, pending a court appearance scheduled for the following day. Officers also obtained a search warrant for the father’s residence to secure the AR-15. However, the report reveals that the father voluntarily surrendered the rifle, which was then placed in police evidence. Officers reportedly advised him on the importance of secure firearm storage, especially in households with minors, which he agreed to address. No further details were released.
EDITOR’S NOTE: All information for this story was sourced directly from the police report provided by the department. Any discrepancies should be directed to the reporting agency.