NEW HANOVER COUNTY — A Eugene Ashley High School student was arrested today after detectives from the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office learned he had made threats and attempted to convince a fellow student to help him kill other students.
According to Jerry Brewer, spokesman for the Sheriff’s Office, detectives arrested a 15-year-old male after an investigation that began on Friday, Feb. 23.
Detectives had initially heard the student “had a list of people at the school that he was going to try and kill,” according to Brewer.
Detectives searched the student’s home but didn’t find the list. Brewer also confirmed that the student did not have access to firearms.
Detectives continued their investigation into Wednesday, Feb. 28, and learned the student had attempted to “solicit another student into assisting him in his attempt to kill or injure people at the school,” Brewer said. At that point, detectives arrested the student, charging him with making false reports of mass violence on educational property.
The student is currently in custody at the New Hanover County juvenile detention facility.
There have been numerous arrests of students in the wake of the Parkdale, Florida shooting. Three students were arrested in connection with threats made at Myrtle Grove Middle School, and several other threats were made in Brunswick and Pender counties. To date, there have been no credible threats and no injuries.
