MUSKEGON COUNTY, Mich. — The 16 year old Grand Haven High School student who made a threat against Mona Shores High School isn't being charged as an adult. However, the charge is still very serious according to Muskegon County Prosecutor DJ Hilson. They're facing a one year misdemeanor of threat against a school.
"We have a felony level charge we can think of. We have a misdemeanor charge we can think of," said Hilson. "Certainly, if it rises to the level, we can consider asking the court to treat a young person like an adult."
On Thursday investigators in Muskegon County were made aware of a threat against Mona Shores students that was allegedly going to happen in November.
"You're essentially putting your future, your destiny, in the hands of individuals who are trained professionals, but are going to be making the decisions as to what happens next," said Hilson.
Hilson couldn't tell 13 ON YOUR SIDE too much detail about the case because the student is a minor. He was able to tell us that law enforcement was able to detain the suspect without having to close the school.
"As you're sitting there right now, I have to decide, is it worth it," said Hilson. "And I'm going to tell you right now, the answer to that question is no."
The threat against Mona Shores is only one of several other threats made to school districts across West Michigan this school year. Comstock Public Schools, the Three Rivers District, Grandville Public Schools and Byron Center Public Schools have also had to deal with alleged threats.
Tom Czyz is the founder and CEO of Armored one, a security company for school districts.
While it's not known how the Mona Shores threat was made, or how investigators found out, Czyz said threats against schools and students increase after a school shooting, like the one that killed four in Georgia earlier this month. He said that social media may be to blame.
"When it's at the top of the news media feed, we end up seeing at the top of social media feeds, your Instagrams, your Facebooks and, more likely, your Snapchats and things like that," said Czyz. "So when the kids are seeing it, they're playing into it. They're looking for attention, they're looking to show off, or they are looking to make a threat, and they want to become a known name, so they're making these threats."