Grand Junction boy, 12, charged after threat to do ‘recreation…of Columbine’

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – A 12-year-old Orchard Mesa Middle School student faces felony charges after he allegedly made plans to “do a re-creation of the Columbine shooting,” police say.

The boy apparently told another student of his plan to carry out a shooting at the school in coming days, who told their parent. The parent passed the alleged threat on to Grand Junction police Thursday evening.

Police went to the boy’s home, where they interviewed him and took him into custody.

The boy, who has not been named, faces felony menacing charges and a class 1 misdemeanor charge of interfering with staff, faculty, or students of an education institution.

The Grand Junction Police Department says the investigation into the alleged threat is “very active” and ongoing, and said its officers plan to interview more people about the alleged threat in coming days.

The school was in session as normal Friday, but police said there were additional officers at the school “out of an abundance of caution.”

The police department commended the student who reported the threat to his parent.

“We’re grateful for this student’s courage and willingness to speak up and be an advocate for the safety of students and staff,” the department said. “We encourage all parents and guardians to work towards an open, honest dialog with their kids, so students feel safe disclosing information that needs the intervention of an adult.”