OCALA, FL (352today.com) – The Ocala Police Department (OPD) says students in Illinois have been arrested in connection with threats against schools in Marion County.
OPD says it learned of the threats on Monday, Jan. 22, when several students from Forest, Vanguard, and North Marion High schools received texts from an unknown number. Police say the texts threatened school shootings and bombings.
Detectives say an investigation led to the identification of three young suspects in Peoria, Illinois, which is more than a thousand miles and 15 hours away.
OPD says they worked with the Peoria Police Department (PPD) in Illinois on the case.
Police say the suspects – aged 12, 13, and 14 years old – were interviewed and arrested.
“School safety is a top priority for our agency and we take threats like this very seriously,” said OPD in a post on Facebook. “If you ever come across a threat like this, especially towards a school, please call law enforcement immediately.”