Second teen found accused of making school shooting threats

Two days after a teenager was apprehended and charged for making threats against the Newton school district and one day after a student threatened a teacher, police have arrested another teen who has also been accused of threatening a school shooting and harming a student at their home.

According to a press release from the Newton Police Department, officers were notified at 4:43 p.m. Sept. 20 of a juvenile male threatening a shooting at a school and shooting another student at their residence. After several interviews were conducted, the teen was located and taken into custody without issue.

The identity of the student has not been released. He has since been transported to the Central Iowa Juvenile Detention in Eldora, which is the same facility the teen who allegedly threatened to shoot up the school this past week was sent to. Similarly to that juvenile, this one has also been charged.

Police have charged this juvenile with threat of terrorism (Class D felony) and first-degree harassment (aggravated misdemeanor.”

Superintendent Tom Messinger addressed this most recent threat in a message to Cardinal families on ParentSquare. In it he said two potential reports of school threats were made to Safe+Sound Iowa, an app that lets users submit tips anonymously about potential threats to schools.

“One was found to be a conversation about a threat from earlier in the week,” he said. “The other was determined to be a threat which led to charges being filed.”

Like with the previous alleged threat, Messinger wanted to thank the individuals who reported the situations. This level of support and cooperation, he said, is necessary to maintain the highest level of safety and security for the community. Messinger also thanked Newton Police for their swift and thorough response.

“We are fortunate to have a community and community support agencies so dedicated to our school district,” Messinger said.