DETROIT – The alarming uptick in school social media threats prompted a harsh message from prosecutors.
The feds and local law enforcement gathered Tuesday morning to discuss tackling school threats across Michigan.
Led by U.S. Attorney Matthew Schneider, officials stressed serious charges including 20-year felonies will be sought against anyone suspected of making a threat of violence against a school. Schneider said Michigan law enforcement officials have seen a "tremendous" increase in such threats this year.
"They're overwhelming," he said. "Law enforcement is united in this effort (to stop the threats). We are vigorously investigating and prosecuting anybody that threatens our schools.
Schneider was joined by Detroit Police Chief James Craig, Michigan State Police, the Michigan Attorney General, six county sheriffs, the FBI, Homeland Security, the DEA, Secret Service and more.
Macomb County Prosecutor Eric Smith said there have been 51 people charged with making threats in his county since the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla. Smith compared that to the average 17 such charges his county has had over the course of recent years.
"Of the 40 juveniles we've had (charged) ... it runs the gamut to those with no trouble (in the past) to those who have had a lot of trouble," said Smith.
Officials have been calling on parents to become more involved in their children's social media. Macomb County Sheriff Anthony Wickersham said he has seen better cooperation from parents in some of his department's investigations.
"Sometimes they say, "'Oh not my boy,' or 'Not my girl,' ... but now it looks like parents are finally getting it," he said.
Schneider said schools will be given a presentation about the consequences of making such threats.
In one such case, a 17-year-old boy pleaded guilty to two counts of terrorism threat, a 20-year felony, and two counts of bomb threat, a 4-year felony, after threats were directed at Plymouth-Canton high school.
The US Attorney’s Office is staring a new program where they will to schools and talk to the students about making false threats. Several school districts have already signed up to participate.
Watch the full news conference here: