Northwest High School student arrested for making threats warning students not to come to school

GERMANTOWN, Md. - A 15-year-old Northwest High School student has been arrested for making threats on social media directed towards the school.

Northwest High School principal Jimmy D'Andrea reported that a student called police early Friday morning to report a social media post regarding guns at the school. The post also advised students to not report to class. Montgomery County police say the threat was posted Snapchat.

However, police say they there was no credible information to support the threat at the Germantown school, but there was an increased police presence at Northwest on Friday.

Investigators were able to identify a 15-year-old boy as the person who made the threatening social media post. He has been charged as a juvenile with offenses relating to disrupting school operations.

"We take every threat seriously, we investigate every threat to its fullest, and if a threat is deemed credible, then we will pursue criminal charges," said Montgomery County Police Officer Rick Goodale. "So we want to get across to these kids that this is not a game. This is serious. We will investigate and we will charge you."

Police say the student has been returned to the custody of his parents after he was charged.

"I will also be speaking to all student today about this posting and emphasizing the importance of telling an adult immediately if a student sees or hears anything of concern," D'Andrea said in a statement.

D'Andrea said that he is proud of the student who made the call to police and that safety and security are the school's top priorities.