Official: CT middle schooler threatened to shoot teacher

OLD SAYBROOK — A local middle school student was arrested Wednesday after threatening to shoot a staff member and “blowing up” the building, officials said.

Law enforcement and school officials do not believe there was a genuine threat to the school, students or faculty, Superintendent Jan Perruccio wrote in a letter to the community Wednesday.

Perruccio said the student’s alleged behavior was “extremely concerning.” However, she said the student “did not possess or have access to any materials required to carry out any past threats that were made.”

Perruccio did not say when the threat was made.

Old Saybrook Police Chief Michael Spera said the student was charged with seconddegree threatening and second-degree breach of peace and was scheduled to appear Thursday in juvenile court.

The student’s name, age and gender were not released. Juvenile arrests and court proceedings are generally not public unless the matter is transferred to adult court — often for the most serious crimes.

The arrest came one day after a mass school shooting in Texas, where 21 students and teachers were killed, renewed calls to address the deadly violence in schools.

Spera contended Thursday that there was no need to increase the police presence at Old Saybrook’s three schools since each has a school resource officer and multiple patrol officers show up for drop-off and dismissal each day.

Perruccio did not return phone calls seeking comment. First Selectman Carl

Fortuna Jr. also did not return phone calls.

Police Commission Chair Alfred “Chub” Wilcox said he believed the threats were made in the past week and reported within 24 hours to authorities. “I think it’s been handled very professionally,” Wilcox said.

Perruccio said in the letter that the schools were limited by state and federal law on how much information could be shared about the incident.

“The involved student was not at school (Wednesday) by design and was taken into custody this afternoon,” Perruccio said.

The investigation began after the Old Saybrook Department of Police Services received an anonymous complaint about the student making the remarks, Perruccio wrote in the letter to the school community.

“The individual staff member involved has been made aware of the situation and has expressed comfort that the matter is being addressed appropriately,” the letter said.

School and law enforcement investigated and the student was taken into custody Wednesday afternoon, Perruccio wrote in the letter.

“As we have jointly communicated in the past, the safety and security of our students, staff and school campuses is our utmost priority,” Perruccio wrote in the letter.

“We must rely on you and our students to bring matters of concern to our attention in a very timely manner. In situations concerning the safety and security of our schools, seconds matter. As mentioned in last evening’s communication, please contact the police or the school without delay to share a safety concern.”