Students charged for threat at school

SPRINGBORO, Ohio (WDTN) - Two 15-year old Springboro students are facing charges for threatening the school, although prosecutors believe the pair never intended to act on their threats.

The online threat was spotted by other students and reported to school officials shortly afterward. It was in reference to stopping posts about the Sandy Hook shooting Friday or "Maybe Springboro will be as well known as Newtown, Connecticut. So please be quiet."

A second student later commented, "Let's use our guns one last time before they take them away for good."

Prosecutors spent the weekend investigating before determining that the students were never going to carry out their threats, but they still charged them with disorderly conduct.

"In today's environment you can't joke about a school shooting," says Warren County Prosecutor David Fornshell. "We take that very seriously."

The Springboro superintendent sent out an email to parents explaining what happened and asking them to talk to their kids about, "making comments that could rise to a threatening nature."

As one of Springboro's Cake Ladies, Debby Young knows the recipe for success. She also understands all too well the ingredients that go into a tragedy.

"I was at the middle school next to Columbine when Columbine happened and we were on lockdown until 5:30 at night," Debby says.

That's what came to mind when Debby heard about the threat prosecutors say was posted online by two Springboro High School students.

With kids in Springboro's elementary schools, she's glad the district didn't take any chances.    

"Kids like to write things to get responses but if you don't take it serious and something happens you're at fault too," Debby says.

Fornshell says the students will undergo a psychological assessment and will likely have to go through counseling.