JOLIET, Ill. (STNG) - A Joliet Catholic Academy student who threatened a Columbine-style attack at the school on his Facebook page was arrested Thursday after other students reported his Internet comments to their parents and school officials, police said.
Kyle P. Tulley, 17, of Wilmington, faces two misdemeanor charges -- disorderly conduct and harassment through electronic communications, said Charles Pelkie, spokesman for the Will County state’s attorney’s office.
The criminal charges stem specifically from his alleged threat to punch JCA Principal Jeffery Budz, Pelkie said. But police said they are continuing their investigation into the comments made on the social-networking Web site, which also included threats of violence against the school.
Budz could not be reached for comment Thursday.
Starting about 9 p.m. Wednesday, several students noticed an online argument between Tulley and others on Facebook. The back-and-forth allegedly included threats of violence, including a reference to "Columbine", according to Joliet police Chief Fred Hayes.
Besides the alleged threat against Budz, Tulley allegedly referred to a firearm and an attack at JCA similar to the mass shooting by two students at Columbine High School in Colorado on April 20, 1999.
The students told their parents about the threats. The parents called school officials, who called police.
School officials arranged a meeting with Tulley and two other students involved, their parents and police Thursday morning before school, Hayes said.
Police determined Tulley was the only one making the threats, Hayes said.
"[The Facebook conversation] does mention one student name in particular," Hayes said. "We are looking into the possibility that there may have been some type of argument about a girl or about an Xbox game that may have [been a motivation for the argument]."
Police searched the students' cars and lockers for weapons and found none. Police also obtained a search warrant Thursday and seized Tulley's computer.
School officials notified the student body and parents of the incident Thursday morning.
Classes continued as normal Thursday. No students were ever at risk of harm, Hayes said.
"This is a good example of students coming forward when they see or hear things being communicated," Hayes said. "This is a great example of working together to ensure everyone's safety."
Later Thursday afternoon, what appeared to be the same threats posted on Facebook were re-posted by a reader at the end of the story about the JCA incident in The Herald News Web site's comments section. Police were notified and are also investigating those comments.
E-Mail Story
Print Story
