HPS closed two schools due to threat

Breaking news: According to Hamtramck Public School Superintendent Jaleelah Ahmed, there has been an arrest made in this matter. Hamtramck Police Chief Anne Moise said a female juvenile was arrested on Thursday, and was charged Friday with: Threatening to commit violence with firearm, explosives, or other dangerous weapon against students or employees on school property.

The juvenile is in custody at a Juvenile Detention Facility. In general, the names of juveniles charged with a crime are not released unless they are charged as an adult. Also, the threat was made via social media.
By Charles Sercombe
Some Hamtramck Public School students got an unexpected day off.
But it was hardly a day to celebrate.
Because of a threat aimed at Kosciuszko Middle School and Dickinson West, as well as an unnamed individual, the schools were closed Tuesday.
Both schools are housed in the same building, and classes resumed on Wednesday.
Police Chief Anne Moise said the threat had nothing to do with the events unfolding in the Mideast and Gaza.
As of Thursday, the day The Review went to press, there was no update on the investigation into the threat.
“We are aware of a social media post that was made involving a possible school threat and our detectives are actively investigating it,” Moise told The Review. “We strongly encourage everyone to report any suspicious activity or behaviors to police.”
The nature of the threat was not disclosed. Moise said the detective bureau is investigating the matter.
HPS Superintendent Jaleelah Ahmed said the threat was received over the weekend. It is unclear why the schools were not closed on Monday as well.
In a letter posted on the district’s website, Ahmed reminded parents that threats have serious consequences.
“Please discuss with your children the serious nature of making threats, emphasizing that even off hand remarks can result in severe legal consequences, including charges for False Threat of Terrorism or Threat of Terrorism,” Ahmed said.
“Additionally, recent legislation criminalizes threats of violence against anyone on school property, reinforcing the lifelong repercussions of such actions.”
Making such threats is a felony, and those convicted face a prison term of up to 20 years.
Earlier in the school year Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy issued a warning about making school threats.
“In many of these cases, the student who made the threat tells investigators that they were ‘just joking’ and seem genuinely shocked by how serious the consequences are for making the threat,” Worthy said.
“Often they make the threat thinking that it is not a big deal as long as they did not plan to actually carry it out. Michigan law, however, makes it a crime to make a threat, even if the person making the threat did not have the intent or the capability of actually carrying it out.”
Posted Oct. 20, 2023