Investigators have no indication that anyone else was involved, beyond the 16-year-old arrested, in online schools threats that closed high schools in Dakota County on Tuesday, Apple Valley’s police chief said Wednesday.
Some parents and students have continued to worry after the arrest.
Multiple voices were heard in a threat video, including the voice of President Donald Trump. There was a video that showed firearms on a table and referenced specific schools, asking which should be shot up first.
“It is important to note that a person can share a video without being the original creator of the video,” said Apple Valley Police Chief Nick Francis. “No firearms were located and there is no belief that the suspect had access to weapons.”
Apple Valley Police led the investigation because they took the initial call about threatening messages that specifically listed both Eastview High School in Apple Valley and Apple Valley High School as potential targets of violence.
The investigation was aimed at tracing the online accounts used for the threats. Police carried out a search warrant Tuesday at a property in Eagan where the threatening messages were sent from, Francis said. It was in the 4800 block of Villa Parkway in Eagan, which is near Minnesota 77 and Cliff Road, according to Eagan police.
An examination of the suspect’s digital devices is underway.
“Our department worked continuously and tirelessly to investigate the threats to multiple schools in our community,” Francis said. “We arrested the suspect who posted the threatening messages. There is no indication that others were involved with these social media posts. If additional people are determined to be involved, we will pursue criminal charges.”
The 16-year-old was booked into the Dakota County Juvenile Services Center. The Dakota County Attorney’s Office is reviewing the case and expects to make a charging decision Thursday, according to a spokesperson for the office.
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Independent School District 196 Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan high schools, which were all closed by the district Tuesday, are back in session on Wednesday. In neighboring Burnsville-Eagan-Savage School District 191, Burnsville High School closed Tuesday morning, and elementary and middle schools shut down early Tuesday. Students and teachers are also back to school in District 191.
Eagan police said in a social media update Wednesday they “have no credible information suggesting any ongoing threat to our schools.”
Police have an increased presence at schools, school resource officers are remaining “in constant communication” with the district’s administrators, law enforcement agencies are coordinating “to share intelligence in real-time,” and there is still monitoring of social media for “any concerning reports,” the Eagan department’s post said.
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