The Somerset County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) arrested a Crisfield High School student (juvenile) Jan. 17 at their home for threatening mass violence and arson.

On Jan. 16, 2024, at approximately 7:20 am, a Crisfield High School official informed the School Resource Deputy assigned to Crisfield High School of a potentially dangerous situation. The official had received several student reports of a specific student threatening violence and allegedly in possession of a gun on the school bus. The School Resource Officer and school officials immediately attempted to locate the student suspect and quickly determined that the suspect was not on the school campus. The School Resource Officer immediately activated the assistance of the SCSO Criminal Investigation Division and began to identify and interview potential witnesses.

SCSO Detectives arrived and took over the investigation. After collecting information at Crisfield High School, detectives located the suspect student in the company of a parent at their home. Investigators gathered sufficient evidence at the school and the student’s home to arrest the juvenile student for threatening mass violence. Deputies transported the student to the Sheriff’s Office for processing and referral to the Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ). Criminal Charges recommended to DJJ are as follows:

1. Threat of mass violence and,

2. Threat of arson,

A SCSO request made to DJJ to hold the accused juvenile was denied, and the accused has been released back into the custody of a parent.

Investigators were not able to develop evidence suggesting that this student had a weapon on school property during these events. It is, however, recorded that this same suspect student was referred to DJJ in October of 2019 for charges of:

1. Carry a dangerous weapon on school property,

2. Carry a handgun on the person,

3. Disturb a school operation and,

4. Resisting arrest.

Any questions regarding this incident should be directed to Deputy First Class Boone Tunney at the Somerset County Sheriff’s Office, (410) 651-9225. The investigation is being reported under case number SCSOP240073.