The Rome Police Department has determined that a threat allegedly made toward Rome Free Academy on social media was not credible, the department announced.
“The Rome Police Department and the Rome City School District take every threat seriously and investigate each incident thoroughly,” a statement from the police continued.
The department investigated after it was notified about the post on April 14.
That’s the day after Oneida County Sheriff Robert Maciol announced that his office had arrested three teens in relation to an alleged plot for a shooting in the Clinton Middle School cafeteria on April 17.
The sheriff’s office investigated after the parent of another student reported a concerning Snapchat post, officials said. An investigation determined that the threat was credible and that the students had a plan and the means to carry out the shooting, Maciol said.
A number of firearms were confiscated from the home of one of the students.
Copycat?
There is no evidence at this time to suggest that the Rome incident is in any way related to the Clinton investigation or that it’s a copycat threat, Rome Capt. Alex Sypniewski said.
But threats following on the heels of other threats or incidents would not be unusual.
“There are always copycat threats,” Maciol said, “nearly every single time.”
Gov. Kathy Hochul released a statement in reaction to news of the alleged foiled shooting plan in Clinton.
“I have been briefed by state police about a credible mass shooting threat at Clinton Middle School in Oneida County involving three students,” she said in the statement. “I am grateful for the work of Oneida County Sheriff Maciol and local law enforcement in preventing this tragic act of violence. My administration stands ready to assist local law enforcement as they continue their investigation.”
In the Clinton case, two girls, ages 14 and 13, were sent for mental health evaluations and have been charged with aggravated threat of mass harm, a misdemeanor. A 13-year-old boy has been charged with second-degree conspiracy, a Class B felony; he was released into his guardian’s custody.