Two juveniles charged in recent threat at Berlin Intermediate School
BERLIN, Md. – Worcester County officials say two juveniles have been charged in connection to what was deemed to be a targeted threat at Berlin Intermediate School.
Officials with the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office, Worcester County Public Schools, and Worcester County State’s Attorney held a joint press conference Friday morning to share the information.
On Wednesday, June 1st, the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office was contacted by Worcester County Public Schools regarding a potential threat that was brought to school administration by several students. The threat was quickly confirmed to be credible by sheriff’s deputies.
The investigation revealed that following a verbal altercation with a classmate on social media days earlier, a 13-year-old female brought a knife to school on Wednesday and asked a fellow student to hide the knife near the wood line outside of the school so that she could physically harm the classmate during recess. Several students reportedly overheard the conversation and reported the information to faculty members, who relayed the information to the school resource deputies. A fixed blade kitchen knife was recovered by school deputies from the suspect’s backpack, and the Worcester County Bureau of Investigation was immediately contacted.
We’re told the investigation is still ongoing and has resulted in numerous interviews, including confessions from both suspects regarding their involvement, as well as the seizure of additional pieces of evidence.
Officials say the juveniles have been charged with conspiracy to commit first degree murder, attempted assault, and other related charges.
Worcester County Sheriff Matthew Crisafulli said, “Through the combined efforts of the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office, the Worcester County Bureau of Investigation, the Worcester County States Attorney’s Office, and both the students and staff at Worcester County Public Schools, we have averted a potentially tragic incident. Furthermore, I can confidently state that there is currently no active threat at Berlin Intermediate School or any other school within Worcester County at this time.”
Officials also praised the students who bravely came forward to report this incident to school officials.
