Police: Student Threatened to Randomly Kill Council Rock South Students, Staff

Police charged a juvenile with terroristic threats and possession of a firearm by a minor after the 14-year-old threatened to bring a gun and knives to Council Rock South, police said on Friday.

Northampton Township Police received a report on Thursday that a male student threatened to bring a gun and knives into the Council Rock South building and randomly kill students and staff, police said at a press conference at the Northampton Township building. Another student overheard the threat, reported it to his parents, who then notified the authorities, officers confirmed at the press conference.

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"I am deeply indebted to the Northampton police for the way they investigated the situation and kept the school safe," said Council Rock Superintendent Mark Klein during a press conference at the Northampton Township Administrative Building.

Police immediately began investigating after receiving the report at 5:45 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 20.

Officers responded to a residence located on Cypress Avenue in Richboro just after 9:30 p.m. and arrested the juvenile. 

The boy's mother and father were also arrested.

During the arrest, a male identified as Vincent Mario Russo, Jr., 48, of the 500 block of West Street Road in Feasterville, was arrested for resisting arrest and obstruction of the administration of justice.

Additionally, Lizabeth Donohoe, 50, was arrested and charged with possession of a firearm, endangering the welfare of children, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia, police said.

According to the affidavit, officers asked Donohoe if there were any weapons in the house. She told the police that her grandfather's guns were in the residence, and led them to her son's room. Police said that two 9mm handguns, fully functional but unloaded, were found on the 14-year-old's bedroom nightstand. One gun had a clip capacity of 8+1 and the other 13+1.

While in the residence, officers saw many air soft weapons and assorted knives, machetes and swords throughout the house. Northampton Police Chief Barry Pilla pointed to the airsoft rifle and said it resembled an AK-47, and even though it is a BB gun, it could have endangered the boy.

"If he confronted law enforcement officers with this replica," said Pilla, "he would have been fired upon."

The juvenile was remanded to the Bucks County Youth Detention Center in Edison. The female was arraigned and remanded to Bucks County Correctional Facility in lieu of $100,000 bail. Russo was released pending summons.

Council Rock South was closed on Friday as a precautionary measure by Superintendent Mark Klein, and a sweep of the building was completed by K-9 Units from Lower Makefield, Bensalem and Bristol Township Police Departments. Nothing was discovered in the school and it was turned back over to the Council Rock authorities at 9 a.m., police said.

The investigation is ongoing at this time, but police said that based on the investigation that included several interviews, the juvenile was acting alone and the threat against Council Rock South and the community has been eliminated.

Related Articles:

• Student Behind CR South Threat in Custody
• Threat Forces Closing of Council Rock South
• ABC News: Teen Behind CR South Threat Had Guns
• Officials: Threat Specific to Council Rock South