Woonsocket High School placed on lockdown after student threat

Woonsocket High School was placed on lockdown Thursday morning after a student allegedly made a violent threat toward another student.

Police reported that a 16-year-old student threatened to leave school grounds and return with a gun. After learning of the threat staff alerted the school resource officer, who immediately took action.

The student appeared visibly upset as he left campus, which prompted the lockdown. Officers quickly located him walking toward his home. Upon arriving at the house police spoke with a parent and conducted a search of the residence.

Inside, officers found a 15-year-old hiding in a bedroom. Police identified him as a friend of the 16-year-old and someone already known to law enforcement. Authorities also discovered a machete, a rifle, a handgun, ammunition, and several packages of marijuana in the home.

The lockdown was lifted once police confirmed there was no longer an active threat to the school.

Both teens were charged with two counts of possession of a firearm by a person under 18 and possession of ammunition by a person under 18. The 15-year-old was charged with possession of more than one ounce of marijuana. After being arrested, both were transported to the Rhode Island Training School.

The incident adds to growing concern over student behavior in Woonsocket, where police have already arrested more than two dozen students for fighting since the start of the school year.

Back in September, 13 students at Woonsocket High School were been suspended following a series of fights that took place in one day.

Woonsocket Police Chief Thomas Oates said officers responded to the school shortly after 8:30 a.m. for multiple disturbances that continued until around 1 p.m. and resulted in 13 students getting arrested.

According to Oates, the incidents involved several groups: an altercation between three female students, another involving up to six male students in different areas of the building, and two additional fights between pairs of students.

Each student was charged with disorderly conduct. All were released to their parents except for one individual who was on probation and was sent to family court.

Woonsocket High School placed on lockdown.