Threat that closed Howell schools result of video game

The Howell Public Schools District closed Monday because of a threat to “shoot up the school” made over Twitter. Investigation by authorities in two states showed that the threat was made as a result of an online video game.

Here is the message Howell parents received Tuesday evening:

Dear parents,

I spoke to the Michigan State Police several times throughout the day. In partnership with the Harnett County Sheriff’s Department (in North Carolina), the Michigan State Police located the individual responsible for making the threat. The individual is a 16 year-old high school student in Lillington, North Carolina. The detectives at the Harnett County Sheriff’s Department interviewed the student this afternoon and determined this was not a credible threat. The threat was made as a result of an online video game the students were playing.

The Michigan State Police is in the process of finalizing the investigation and will submit it to the Prosecutor’s Office for review.

Again, I would like to thank the Michigan State Police for their diligence and partnership.

Sincerely,

Erin J. MacGregor
Superintendent, Howell Public Schools

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The Livingston Post is the only locally owned, all-digital information and opinion site in Livingston County, Mich. It was launched by award-winning journalists who were laid off from the Livingston County Daily Press & Argus by Gannett Co. Inc. in 2009.