A 15-year-old female from LaPlace was arrested January 29, 2024 in connection to a threat of violence at East St. John High School in Reserve.
On December 12, 2023, school administrators were notified of a student making threatening statements toward others and the school on social media. The school was notified of the threats by a post shared on the school’s Facebook page. School administrators immediately reported the information to school resource officers who contacted the SJSO’s Criminal Investigations Division.
Through investigation, detectives identified and located the student who made the threatening statements, a 15-year-old female who attends the school. Detectives interviewed the female in the presence of her parents, and she admitted to making the threatening comments, but told detectives she had no intention of carrying out any act of violence. Through further investigation, detectives did not find any evidence to indicate the student could carry out the threats.
Out of an abundance of caution, however, the school was closed when school officials learned of the threats.
The juvenile was charged with intimidation and interference with operation of school (misd). She was released January 29, 2024 to her mother.
Sheriff Mike Tregre stresses that the St. John Parish Sheriff’s Office and the St. John Parish School System will take any and all threats at parish schools seriously. All threats will be investigated; and arrests will be made, if warranted, Sheriff Tregre said.
“The SJSO will continue to work with school officials to ensure the continued safety of all students and faculty at our local schools,” Sheriff Tregre said.