'Going to shoot up the school:' Student, 14, arrested after threat in Hartford; weapons surrendered

HARTFORD -- A Hartford Union High School student, 14, was arrested Tuesday, Feb. 20 after a student reported overhearing a comment in a conversation between students in the hallway, during which one student stated: “I’m going to shoot up the school.”

School administrators worked with the school resource officer to identify the student, who was brought to the office for questioning.

Officials say the student admitted to making the statement and was taken into custody. Hartford police said the student "claimed they made the comment because they were having a bad morning," and said they "never intended to act on the comment." Police said the student admitted the comment was inappropriate.

Police found no weapons in his possession, nor on school grounds. Police noted in a news release that "it is not believed that weapons were ever actually on school grounds," but the student's mother voluntarily surrendered three firearms from the family home in Hartford. They were removed pending the outcome of this investigation.

They've recommended charges of disorderly conduct against the student.

An investigation is ongoing.

Students and staff members were notified of this situation over the school's intercom system and a letter was sent home to parents.

School officials said in a statement:

"HUHS takes any threats of any kind seriously in order to ensure the safety and security of everyone in the school. This level of awareness and action is true every day at HUHS, and not just in the wake of such tragedies as in Parkland, FL last week. Today, thanks to the courage of one student, we were able to secure the safety of students, staff, and visitors. The HUHS Administration and the Hartford Police Department commend the student who came forward to report this matter. The safety of our students, staff, school, and community is our top priority."