Wayland Police have investigated numerous allegations that a middle school student was threatening to kill other students shortly after the tragedy in Oxford. Allegations were made that the student had created a “kill list” with students’ names on it, but they were false.
Chief Mark Garnsey, in a prepared statement, wrote, “These allegations also stated that the student was a potential school shooter or was intent on committing violence.
“Police have interviewed numerous witnesses and the person the allegations were made against. To date, we have found no evidence of any threat or intended violence. Some student(s) even admitted they knowingly and purposefully provided information they knew to be false at the time they provided it. The original false statements were retracted during follow up interviews.”
Garnsey said local authorities strongly urge anyone to come forward with any information on potential threats. If anyone sees or hears anything troubling, law enforcement and/or school officials should be advised immediately so that the legitimacy of the information can be investigated. The person providing the information need not know if the information is valid or accurate, as that should be left to the police to determine.
“Law enforcement desires that information to be brought forward,” Garnsey added. “However, one who knowingly provides information they know to be false, just to bully or attempt to get someone else in trouble, is quite another situation. There is a huge distinction between a person in good faith providing a tip that may not turn out to be valid, and another person purposefully providing fictitious information they know to be untrue.
“If anyone should have any doubts about what they or their child should do, contact law enforcement and we will gather your information and answer any questions you may have.”
