As students were preparing to cheer on the Huskies’ football team ahead the annual Thanksgiving Day game, police were called to school after reports a former student was planning to shoot up the pep rally.
Fortunately, the rumors proved to be false.
The concern began after a student told a dean of students that rumors were circulating through the school that a 16-year-old boy who was recently suspended from school was planning to return to the school during the pep rally to “shoot up the assembly”, said Bristol Police Deputy Chief Steven Contente. School administrators called police, who quickly learned the alleged threat appeared to be only a rumor.
“There wasn’t anything that we can say that (supported) he was going to do anything,” Dep. Contente said.
Police quickly located the boy, a Bristol resident, who was out of state with family members for the holiday weekend, dispelling the rumors. He and his parents were fully cooperative with police, Dep. Contente said.
Police investigators interviewed several students who claimed to have heard the rumors, but, according to Dep. Contente, “no one could pinpoint where the information came from,” simply stating that “I heard it” from other students.
“No one said they actually heard him say anything,” Dep. Contente said of the rumored threat.
The investigation did find that the 16-year-old and other students were involved in a “feud” that was taking place on social media, Dep. Contente said.
Although there was no reason to believe any threat was made, police did issue the boy a no-trespass order to ensure he does not return to the school grounds since he is no longer a student there. Police increased their presence at the school for the remainder of the day.