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Threats force 3 schools into lockout

Three area schools went into brief lockouts and three students were taken for mental health evaluations Friday after making threats of violence to staff. At two of the students, according to Gov. Andrew Cuomo, said they would bring guns to school in “copycat threats” after 17 people were people were killed at a Florida high school earlier this week.

The names of the three teenagers — a 15-year-old student of Ashville BOCES, a 17-year-old of Chautauqua Lake and 16-year-old of Randolph Academy — were not released after they were taken for mental health evaluations Friday under the state’s mental hygiene law.

The students were not arrested and are not facing charges at this time, Capt. Eric Balon of the New York State Police said.

Troopers were first alerted to a threat against staff at Chautauqua Lake Central School in Mayville around 9:05 a.m. Friday. They responded with the state Bureau of Criminal Investigation, where a similar threat was also discovered toward staff at the BOCES program in Ashville. Both schools went into lockouts until the students were identified, Balon said.

“Both students were transported to hospitals for evaluation, and this investigation is continuing,” Balon said of the incidents at the Chautauqua County schools.

Balon said one investigation led to another, which resulted in the lockouts. He could not comment if the students knew one another or if the threats were connected in any form.

“I think people are more sensitive, and things that might not get reported immediately in the past will now,” Balon said. “At least one of the statements (of threatening violence) was made several days ago. As soon as we learned about them we began our investigation.”

Friday’s incidents prompted a quick response from Cuomo, who said the incidents come as Wednesday’s mass shooting in Florida at the hands of 19-year-old Nikolas Cruz “reverberate across the country.”

“While the emotion, facts and consequences of yet another brutal gun attack continue to be processed, we must take a firm stand against any ‘copycat actors,'” Cuomo said in a statement. “The state of New York has no tolerance for threats of violence in our school system. They will be handled immediately and aggressively.

“There are serious legal consequences for any person posing a threat whether or not they intend to actually execute upon that threat. A student should know there is nothing humorous about these situations and the consequences are most severe,” he continued.

The governor also called for further police presence at schools statewide. The same message was made by State Sen. Cathy Young, who called the threats to local schools “alarming and despicable.”

“While we don’t yet know if their motivations were malicious or attention-getting, any type of threat understandably strikes terror in the hearts of other students, their parents and school staff,” Young said. “These actions will not be tolerated and the consequences for threats of any nature will be rightfully harsh.”

Young thanked first responders and school officials for finding the students and keeping the situation under control.

In a statement, Superintendent Benjamin Spitzer of the Chautauqua Lake Central School district said the verbal threat was received Friday morning, which led school officials to notify police and initiate the lockout.

“The threat was immediately identified and contained,” Spitzer said. “Law enforcement investigated the matter and advised that the district could cancel the lockout and resume normal operating procedures. The lockout was a precautionary measure.”

Officials at BOCES, meanwhile, said staff initiated a shelter-in-place at its Hewes Campus after learning of the threat. Officials said “no credible threat” was found following an investigation.

“We appreciate your understanding, cooperation and support in keeping our students and campuses safe,” BOCES said. “Every concern has to be taken seriously when talking about school safety. Please be clear with your children: if you see or hear something say something.”

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