Hendricks Co. authorities investigating social media threat by former high school student

HENDRICKS COUNTY, Ind. — Students in the North West Hendricks School Corporation will have e-learning days for the rest of this week after a social media threat. A former Tri-West Hendricks High School student is now accused of threatening to “shoot up” the school.

The suspect, 20-year-old Carson Cole, was booked into the Hendricks County Jail late Wednesday night, according to jail records.

Court documents detail how the Hendricks County Sheriff’s Office began investigating Cole after being made aware of alleged threats posted on Snapchat this week. According to court documents, he faces a felony charge of intimidation for the alleged threats.

Throughout the investigation, detectives reviewed a conversation between Cole and a current Tri-West student on social media where Cole allegedly indicated his intentions to carry out a shooting at the school.

Court documents revealed that some of the threats referenced Columbine High School, the site of a mass shooting that claimed the lives of 15 students in 1999.

HCSO posted on Facebook on Wednesday stating that its investigators were “actively working on this case and will follow up on all leads to the fullest legal extent possible.” HCSO added that it was working closely with the North West Hendricks School Corporation as it increased the number of patrols to enhance safety protocols for Tri-West students.

All activities, including previously scheduled sports games and practices, are canceled for Thursday and Friday.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 59.