FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                                                                                  CONTACT: Chief Deputy Chris Stratton

Thursday March 17, 2022                                                                                                                                                          (513) 732-7648

On March 17, 2022 at approximately 10:00am administrators from the West Clermont Middle School, located at 1341 Clough Pike, Batavia Ohio 45103, were advised that a seventh grade student made a threat to bring a gun and shoot up the school.  School administrators contacted the Clermont County Sheriff’s Office School Resource Officer (SRO) who is assigned to the West Clermont Middle School. Within minutes, the School Resource Officer, along with school administrators, removed the student from class.  The student’s property and locker were searched and no firearms were located. The student’s parents were notified by school administrators of what their child had communicated.

The Clermont County Sheriff’s Office School Resource Officer conducted a complete investigation, which included an interview with the seventh grade student.  During the interview, the student admitted to the staff and the SRO, that she did in fact make the threat.

The female student, age 12, was removed from the school and released to her parents. The School Resource Officer and West Clermont Staff confirmed the student did not have access to means to access any firearms.

This investigation was reviewed with the Clermont County Prosecutor’s Office and it was determined that one count of Inducing Panic (M-1) would be filed through Juvenile Court.