By Ava Hentz and Megan Kelly
Talon Staff
Almost two months after issuing a threat of violence to their school community, a 16-year old Barrington High School student now faces three charges, according to a statement released by the Barrington Police Department on Friday, February 11.
The unidentified student was charged last Wednesday in Rhode Island Family Court with two counts of vandalism and one count of disturbance of public assemblies, the police said.
The Police would not specify if it was a male or female student.
“The Barrington Police Department takes threats of violence very seriously,” Barrington Police Chief Michael E. Correia said in the statement announcing the charges. “There have been far too many violent attacks in schools across the country for us not to do so."
On Monday, December 13, the following message was found in a girls’ bathroom stall: "I am shooting up the school on 12/21/21 with my dad’s [sic] pistol."
It appeared as though the student originally wrote “12/20/21” and then changed their mind.
For the week that followed the BHS community was frightened and on edge.
“I felt very nervous and scared,” a member of the senior class said when sharing their immediate reaction to the threat. “I wasn't sure what was going on.”
“Like most other people, I looked behind me a lot,” a sophomore said, remembering how they were “on high alert” when leaving the school the day the threat was discovered.
“At first I couldn’t believe it,” said sophomore Lillie Brown, who felt “sad someone would resort to such drastic measures to get attention.”
On Tuesday, December 14, the day after the incident, a two-person K-9 unit from the Providence Police Department conducted a security sweep of the building, according to BHS Principal Joseph Hurley.
“The dogs used in the sweep are classified as single-source search dogs and are specifically trained to detect the presence of firearms or related materials,” Mr. Hurley assured students, parents and staff members. “Students and staff were notified before the start of today's sweep, during which the K-9 Unit went into empty classrooms while students were at lunch.
“The dogs checked desks, cabinets, and student book bags that remained in classrooms throughout the building,” Mr. Hurley said. “The officers did not find any firearms or related materials.”
“Since the threat occured, it’s been in the back of my mind,” a freshman remembered when asked about how safe they felt at BHS, “but personally I felt like the school was even more safe due to the increased police presence.”
On Wednesday, December 15, Barrington Schools Superintendent Michael Messore addressed the school community, saying that “our students, teachers, staff and parents are our biggest asset in preventing an incident from actually taking place.
“Please continue to speak with your children and share any information with us, no matter how minor it may seem,” Mr. Messore encouraged. “At the core of violence is trauma and mental health. Students should trust that coming forward with information in confidence will ensure that their classmate or friend can get help.”
And then a national TikTok “challenge” encouraged students across the country to bring weapons to school on Friday, December 17.
Ultimately, the incident prompted the high school to move classes online for the last three days of school prior to the holiday break: December 20, 21 and 22.
The switch to remote learning was a relief to many, including teachers who had been instructed to lock classroom doors during the school day that week.
“I do think the school made the correct decision of online learning,” said math teacher Mrs. Lisa Mendo. “I would have been very nervous to come in.”
Still, it left the school community fearful and cautious for weeks to follow. Students, teachers and staff were all encouraged: “If you see something, say something.”
There was also the added level of uneasiness due to a shooting that occurred at Oxford High School in Michigan on November 30. In that incident, four students were killed and seven people were injured, including a teacher.
“[T]hat put everyone on very high alert,” said Mr. Messore. “The first thing you think of is we live in a suburban community similar to where a lot of these events take place.”
News of the threat spread fast on December 13.
The police were immediately informed, but the message had already been circulated among students and teachers.
“Pictures had already been taken and it was already out there in the public,” said Barrington High School Principal, Joseph Hurley. “By the time the police were here… we were already getting calls in from concerned parents and students.”
With respect to the student charged in the incident, Chief Correia stated, "In this case, we will work with the Family Court, which is equipped to address juvenile incidents, to ensure that the community is protected and the young adult receives any services they may need.”
Chief Correia said the investigation concluded with the charges levied against the student on Wednesday, February 9.
The Barrington Police partnered with the Rhode Island State Police and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service on the investigation. The U.S. Postal Service reportedly assisted with a handwriting analysis.
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