Threats Made Towards Gavit School In Hammond
The Hammond Police & Gavit School Administration were made aware of two posts on Facebook Thursday morning by a new social media account possibly to hide the identity of the suspect who threatened violence against the school. Gavit Administration sent an email to parents late Thursday morning stating, after a thorough investigation Gavit Staff & Hammond Police were able to identify the origin of the posts and there was no longer an immediate threat or danger. Gavit Administration stated they are following district procedures and board policy in disciplinary consequences. RNS has learned the pictures posted on the fake account were found on the Internet and not taken by the poster. Another post on social media in a community school group stated a middle schooler was taken into custody.
Hammond Police have confirmed the student is a 15-year-old male in eighth grade at Gavit, according to Lt. Steve Kellogg of The Hammond Police. Police searched the student’s home with full cooperation from his parents. The student has never had access to the weapons he displayed on social media, Kellogg stated. The student is now in custody and will be transported to the Lake County Juvenile Detention Center where he will await formal charges for felony intimidation.
Hammond Mayor Thomas McDermott told RNS, “It’s a sad reflection on society that gun related violence, or threats of gun related violence, has become the normal. Unfortunately for us, school related threats are becoming too frequent as well. This is the 2nd school related threat the Hammond School System has received this year. As a society, we need to examine what we must do to help these troubled kids who make these life changing mistakes. In this case, it was a 15 year old kid that made this mistake.”
Hammond Police would like to assure the public that we take these matters very seriously. Student and staff safety is always our top priority, Kellogg states. Police hope that parents and community leaders can use this is as an opportunity to have a conversation with their students and children, and remind them of the consequences of their words and actions.
