An 18-year-old Owensboro High School student was arrested Friday for a threat indicating “a shooting may take place following tonight’s football game” between OHS and Owensboro Catholic High School, authorities said. School district officials said the incident is unrelated to the recent images circulating statewide on social media containing vague threats of violence.
According to a statement from OPD, at approximately 10:30 a.m. Friday, police received information “indicating a shooting threat had been made on social media.”
OPD Criminal Investigations detectives along with patrol units were able to identify a suspect, Israel Swanagan. According to OPD, Swanagan was taken into custody at approximately noon and lodged at the Daviess County Detention Center for second-degree terroristic threatening.
“At this point in the investigation, there is no evidence to indicate that any other suspects are involved in this threat,” OPD’s statement reads.
District officials say the incident is unrelated to the recent images circulating on social media containing vague threats about schools.
Owensboro Public Schools officials stressed the incident has nothing to do with the images circulating on social media this week and that there is “no threat or fear of safety” for students and staff.
OHS Principal Jennifer Luttrell sent the following letter to parents just after 1:30 p.m. Friday:
With the recent events in the news this week regarding school safety, we want to make you aware of a situation today before rumors begin to spread.
Today, a student at OHS was taken into custody by the Owensboro Police Department for making a threat to public safety. I want to be very clear on two points: 1) This was not a threat directed at Owensboro High School, anyone at Owensboro High School, or the district at large. 2) This has nothing to do with the online messages that were circulating across the state and the country the past few days. This is a separate incident.
There is no threat or fear of safety for our students and staff. We simply wanted to make you aware to help curb any rumors that may be out there.
As we have stated numerous times, and we strongly encourage our parents and guardians to reiterate this at home, we treat all of these situations with the utmost seriousness. Per state law, conduct of this nature will always result in the offender being charged with a felony.
We want to thank the Owensboro Police Department and our School Resource Officer for their quick action in taking this situation seriously and protecting the public safety of our community.
