[February 23, 2018, Edgewood, MD] Two Edgewood High School students were charged after they wrote a threatening message on a desktop at Edgewood High School in an attempt to disrupt school operations by circulating that message to other students at the school visually and digitally.

On Wednesday, February 21, at 2:45 p.m., the Harford County Sheriff’s Office School Resource Officer (SRO) assigned to Edgewood High School received information that a student reported a message circulating among some students containing threatening content. The SRO was able to obtain a photo of the message, which was written on a classroom desk, and initiated an investigation to ensure the safety of the school community and determine the message’s origin. Through investigation, the deputy developed suspect information and determined two female students of Edgewood High School were responsible for writing and distributing the threatening message. The students are identified as Alexis Robinson, 18, of Edgewood, and Shyanne Evans, 18, of Abingdon.

As a result of the investigation, the SRO determined that while a threat was made and shared, neither student involved had the means, intent, or interest to carry out the threat. At this time, it is believed the students attempted to use the false threat as a means to have school canceled.

The students were each charged as adults by way of criminal summons with Threat of Mass Violence, Conspiracy Threat of Mass Violence, and Disturbing School Operations.

“I applaud the student who came forward and reported this threat directly to the school administration and School Resource Officer,” said Sheriff Jeffrey R. Gahler. “We encourage all residents of Harford County to, if you see something, say something, and the student did the right thing by immediately coming forward. We also want this investigation to serve as a message to youth in Harford County. We take these threats seriously and do not consider them humorous in any way. Even if threats are not deemed credible, you can be charged with a crime. School shootings, like the recent one in Parkland, Florida, are tragic events, and should not be used in an attempt to leverage a prank in order to disrupt school operations.”