Peoria teen arrested for alleged threats to students at Washington Community High School

WASHINGTON – A 16-year-old Peoria Public Schools student has been arrested on suspicion of threatening Washington Community High School students on Oct. 24. 

The boy allegedly sent an anonymous text message to a female WCHS student Sunday night. 

“Don’t go to school tomorrow,” the text warned. “We’re going to shoot up the school. I like you and don’t want you to get hurt.” 

Police tracked the number to a disposable phone and later used it to track down the suspect. 

“He’s the one that made the text message,” said Washington police Chief Mike McCoy on Tuesday afternoon. 

More:Text message threat prompts heightened police presence at Washington high school

McCoy said his department is trying to determine if there were other people involved in the incident, which prompted an increased police presence at WCHS on Monday.  

“Right now, it’s just him. We have our suspicions, but he’s not saying anything,” said McCoy. 

The teen has been charged with falsely making a terrorist threat, a Class 1 felony.