Two Bellefontaine High School boys were removed from school Monday after administrators and a Bellefontaine Police Department school resource officer investigated another student’s concerns the classmates were going to shoot people at the school.
Alexander Cavanaugh, 14, of 700 Township Road 179, Apt. 8F, and Jude Slonecker, 14, of 700 Township Road 179, Apt. 1D, each was charged with delinquency inducing panic.
They were recorded Friday talking on a bus about bringing ammunition and guns to the school, the school resource officer reported. On On Monday, another passenger on the bus forwarded the recording to a teacher, who then alerted school administrators.
Both boys claim they were talking about video games when the conversation shifted to school shootings.
Other officers were sent to the boys’ homes and it was determined neither student had access to firearms. There also was no evidence of an immediate threat.
Jude acknowledged it was wrong and apologized for his part during a Tuesday home visit by a school administrator and the resource officer.
Sarah Cavanaugh, Alexander’s mother, however, was reportedly uncooperative with the process and talked over the school administrator and the resource officer as they tried to explain the school discipline process and the criminal complaint.