Colchester police have arrested a teen after investigating a threat posted on Instagram that referenced Bacon Academy and the recent school shooting in Parkland, Florida.
Police said they started investigating Monday after a comment was posted on Instagram that implied that Bacon Academy would be the target of an active shooter.
Officers identified possible suspects and said they obtained a confession from a former student who said he had posted the comment as a prank.
Police identified 18-year-old Nicholas Burtis as the suspect and said he does not own or have access to firearms. The School Resource Officer was notified of the threat and arrest.
“The recent school shooting incident in Parkland, Florida, as well as not too distant school shooting incident at Sandy Hook Elementary School right here in Connecticut, remind us of our number one priority as a school community and that is the health and safety of our students. I ask that you continue to be patient as we engage in our strict school visitor procedures; they are in place for the safety of all,” Supt. Mary Conway wrote in a letter to families and community members Wednesday.
“Colchester is a special place, and yet, we are no different from any other community. We have residents of all ages who, for a variety of reasons, struggle with making the right decisions for the greater good of our citizens. This week a former student made a threat and was arrested by the Colchester Police Department for making that threat. This is an example of how the message to us all: “See something, say something” works in our community. We are grateful to those who reported their concerns as well as to our partners in the Colchester Police Department and State Police Troop K who take all our concerns seriously and follow up on them,” Conway wrote.
Online court records say Burtis was charged with second-degree breach of peace.
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Burtis could not post bond and was taken to court, according to police. It’s not clear if Burtis has an attorney.
Seventeen people were killed in the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.
