Investigation into creation of threatening social media post identifies 14-year-old suspect

QUINCY — The Quincy Police Department has identified a 14-year-old suspect as the person responsible for the creation of a social media post on Tuesday threatening students at Quincy High School.

A Friday afternoon press release from Adam Yates, chief of the Quincy Police Department, said his officers have been working with the Federal Bureau of Investigation to investigate the origins of the threat. 

“This threat, as well as an abundance of misinformation spread through social media, has been a cause for concern for school administrators, staff, teachers, students and their families,” Yates said in the release.

Evidence recovered early in the investigation indicated the threat may have come from outside the Quincy area. Since there was no actionable intelligence or evidence of an imminent or planned attack, the threat was deemed by QPD to not be credible. 

Yates explained a non-credible threat does not mean a threat did not occur. Instead, it means no actionable intelligence exists that would indicate the perpetrator has the means or intent to carry out the threat.

“Even so, every threat is taken seriously, and the Quincy Police Department stands ready to assist our local schools with additional officers and resources to ensure student safety,” Yates said.

Evidence then was obtained that led investigators to a location in Quincy that might have been used to post the threat – despite the use of technology designed to mask the location. Investigators ultimately confiscated multiple digital devices and identified the suspect.

Yates said officials with Quincy Public Schools have been notified of the suspect’s identity, and the Quincy Police Department continues to work with QPS officials regarding accountability. The suspect was released to the custody of a parent. 

Yates said reports and evidence will be sent to the Adams County Probation Department for consideration of criminal charges once the investigation is finalized. 

“At this time, there is no evidence that the suspect alleged to have made the online threat had access to a firearm,” Yates said.

The threat read, “Y’all I’m finna shoot up quincy senior high t.” The student who reported on Tuesday seeing the threat on Snapchat did not know the person or the account who posted the threat.

Quincy Junior High School was placed into “secure mode” on Wednesday by the school’s administration. An emailed statement by Kim Wert, assistant to Superintendent Todd Pettit, said QJHS went into secure mode because of the “continued sharing of Snapchats, online rumors and statements.”

The main campus of the Hannibal School District — consisting of Hannibal Middle School, Hannibal High School, Hannibal Career & Technical Center and the Annex — also was placed on a soft lockdown for approximately one hour Wednesday after a student reported seeing a threatening message on Snapchat.

Adams County Sheriff’s Department deputies were at schools in the Camp Point Central School District and the Mendon Community Unit 4 District on Wednesday after they were put in “secure mode” after yet another incident involving a social media threat.

Asked if the threat at QHS was connected to the other threats made at local schools this week, Yates said, “That is something we are still looking into.” 

A press release from Quincy Public Schools thanked the Quincy Police Department for its “tireless efforts to make sure threats are investigated thoroughly so that our students and staff are safe in our schools.” The release also said that, per Illinois law, QPS officials cannot comment on student matters and/or discipline.

Quincy Police Department School Resource Officers, as well as members of the Adams County Sheriff’s Department, will partner with Quincy Public School security personnel at Friday night’s homecoming football game at Flinn Stadium and Saturday night’s homecoming dance to provide security.