Riley County police arrested a 16-year-old student around 2:15 p.m. Aug. 29 at Manhattan High School after students reported he made threatening comments and expressed he may have a weapon on him.
A school resource officer approached the student and established that he was not in possession of a weapon, but he was arrested on charges of aggravated criminal threat and transported to the North Central Kansas Regional Juvenile Detention Facility where he now awaits a court date, according to a copy of the Riley County Police Department arrest report published on the Little Apple Post.
Aaron Wintermote, RCPD public information officer, said the verbal threats alone constituted an arrest.
“Making that threat of violence towards others did fall under that statute for aggravated criminal threat which led to the arrest,” Wintermote said.
Chloe Carson, junior in painting at Kansas State University and MHS alumna, said she felt numb upon hearing about the arrest.
“This is not the first threat and arrest in the history of MHS and it won’t be the last,” Carson said.
The amount of gun violence across the country has raised concerns for Carson.
“I am constantly in fear of a shooting incident,” Carson said. “The threat of gun violence is always on my mind, and I feel like at any moment something could happen.”
Carson said she has prepared for the possibility of a school shooting since she was a child.
“I will never forget our first lockdown drill in 5th grade, where my classmate asked if he should help a younger student escape or save himself,” Carson said. “I think of how I can cover an automatic toilet sensor every time I use one in case I need to stay silent. I read the messages sent by students of every age. … I know that those could be mine at any given moment.”
According to the University Weapons Policy, K-State prohibits the open carry of firearms on campus, but the concealed carry of handguns is permitted and no university locations prohibit concealed carry.
The police presence on campus helps him feel safe at school, Declan Taylor, sophomore in fashion business, said.
“I think K-State is doing all right for a campus of its size without having to go into lockdown or something like that,” Taylor said.
To report active violence on campus contact the K-State Police Department at 785-532-6412 in non-emergent situations. Call 911 for emergencies.
