Juvenile Arrested After Bomb Threat at Mars Area High School

A juvenile was arrested Thursday, Oct. 15, following an investigation into a bomb threat written on a bathroom wall at Mars Area High School, according to district security chief Jeff James. Police searched the building and found no explosive device.

James told The 228 Times that a student reported the writing to an assistant principal shortly after noon Tuesday, Oct. 13. The message threatened a bombing Friday, Oct. 16. A photograph of the writing also shows swastikas and Nazi references.

School officials secured the second-floor boys’ bathroom and contacted Adams Township Police. Seven canine teams responded through the Region 13 Task Force to search the building, James said.

Investigators reviewed surveillance footage, interviewed dozens of students and collected handwriting samples to narrow the timeline and identify a suspect, according to James.

High school staff and school police worked alongside Adams Township Police, which made the arrest and filed charges Thursday. James said the case involves a terroristic threats charge. Officials withheld identifying information because the accused is a juvenile.

James said the school was not evacuated because officials had no indication an explosive was present. Investigators determined the writing appeared during the school day, and officials considered the school’s entrance screening procedures in assessing the threat, he said.

In a Tuesday letter to families, Superintendent Dr. Mark Gross said police had deemed the building safe. After-school activities were moved to Mars Area Middle School, while evening activities at the high school were scheduled to proceed.

The district also announced additional building sweeps and security measures for the remainder of the week.