A Riverside-Brookfield High School student has been charged with a felony count of disorderly conduct after he allegedly threatened in a comment on social media on Feb. 13, the day before a scheduled all-school pep rally, to bring a gun to school.
According to the police report obtained by the Landmark through a public records request, the boy, who is a juvenile, left the message as a comment to a post on the @rbdogpound Instagram feed, which hypes upcoming RBHS athletic events and achievements.
The manager of the account alerted Dean Cara Weinberg about the comment, which was taken down from the page. The same person then sent a second comment, also reportedly of a threatening nature.
At about 3:50 p.m., a school official called police, who initiated an investigation. RBHS was scheduled to host the all-school assembly at 9:45 a.m. on Feb. 14. Police were able to identify a suspect and contacted his mother.
Later that day, police went to the suspect’s home where he reportedly admitted making the comment about bringing a gun to school. According to the police report, the boy told police he made the comment “out of frustration and anger” but that he did not have any access to a weapon and had no intention of acting on it.
Riverside Public Safety Director Matthew Buckley confirmed to the Landmark that the boy did not have access to a weapon. The boy’s case is being adjudicated through the Cook County Juvenile Justice.
In the wake of the incident, RBHS Principal Hector Freytas sent a message to students, parents and staff notifying them of the social media threat and stating, “there is no imminent threat to the building.”
Riverside police beefed up their presence at the school on the morning of Feb. 14.
“I thought it was important for us to be there and be visible so everyone felt safe during that event,” Buckley said.
The Landmark has reached out to Riverside-Brookfield High School District 208 Superintendent Kevin Skinkis for additional comment.
