School District Closes For Day After Online Threats; 2 Students Arrested

MARSHALL (WWJ/AP) - Classes are canceled for the day in a southern Michigan school district after photos showing two people holding guns were posted online along with threats to students.

The Calhoun County sheriff's department says two 16-year-old boys were arrested Wednesday night following threats involving Marshall Public Schools.

Calhoun County Sheriff Matt Saxton said authorities got involved after parents saw threatening photos on Instagram and notified the district, which contacted police and helped identify the boys.

"The teenagers were holding firearms and saying that school was going to be fun tomorrow," Saxton told WWJ's Beth Fisher. "At that point, they immediately contacted the local police department, Marshall PD. At that time, Marshall PD started the investigation and were able to identify the two students involved."

Saxton said the high school students were arrested without incident on charges of making a terrorist threat and using the Internet to commit a crime.

"We did locate several firearms at both residences where the students resided," he added.

Both teens are now being held in a county juvenile home.

Thursday's closing was made as a precaution and includes all Marshall Public Schools. Officials say, however, there no longer appears to be a threat to the schools.

This is the third school threat in Calhoun County this week.

"Currently, there are suspects in all three cases," said Saxton. "Two of the cases, subjects involved have been charged. The first incident that occurred at Lakeview Public Schools in Battle Creek, they do have a suspect but that person has not been charged at this point."

The other threat involved Harper Creek Public Schools. A female has been charged in that case, Saxton said.

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