Fayette DA tells students of ‘zero tolerance’ policy for bogus gun threats
More than a thousand Connellsville Area High School students assembled at the high school auditorium Thursday morning for a talk from Fayette County District Attorney Rich Bower and other law enforcement officials focusing on the seriousness of gun violence threats following multiple unsubstantiated threats made at the high school.
Speakers included Bower, Connellsville City Police Chief Bill Hammerle and state police Trooper Robert Broadwater.
“I can tell you right now that everyone in this room, the administration, the school board, police, juvenile probation … and my office have a zero tolerance policy,” Bower said. “You make a threat, you will be arrested.”
Bower recalled being a 5-foot-6, 110-pound, curly-haired “nerdy” student when he attended Connellsville Area High School and added that he found that some of his fellow students who had been popular during their school days together went on to face legal troubles during his time as an assistant district attorney and other law enforcement posts.
“How many in here feel that they can’t turn to anybody to talk to about being picked on, so they go onto social media to express themselves?” Broadwater asked, seeking a show of hands. “It’s okay. Nobody? Nobody feels they can talk to anybody? There’s a lot of people you can talk to. Take a look around.”
A Connellsville Area High School student is facing charges for writing a threat on a restroom wall Tuesday morning, according to an automated call sent to parents from district Interim Superintendent David McDonald Tuesday afternoon.
It was the second automated call from McDonald in three school days after a message was sent to parents last Friday reporting that the district had investigated rumors of potential gun violence at the high school and career and technical center. The threat was unsubstantiated.
Bower said he plans to conduct similar assemblies at other Fayette County schools as well, amid heightened concerns about school safety following a shooting at a Parkland, Fla. school last week that left 17 dead.