Police let suspect in school shooting threat go to school after initial interview with him and dad
By: Body camera footage shows the first time police officers spoke directly with a 14-year-old boy suspected of plotting a mass shooting at Mariemont High School. Officers spoke with the boy's father, and eventually the boy, before they let the teen leave to attend school for the day.
The 14-year-old was arrested and charged with conspiracy to commit aggravated murder after investigators uncovered a hit list that they said contained at least eight students and one teacher.
According to a police report filled out by Fairfax police on February 6, their department received a phone call from Zach Swallen, who said his son tipped him off to a classmate's "elaborate plan" to carry out a mass shooting at Mariemont High School.
The call from Swallen came in at around 9:50 p.m. that Tuesday night. He told police his son called him and told him his life was threatened at school by another student who also made comments about "bringing a gun to school and shooting others," the police report says.
Fairfax police contacted Mariemont police, the report says. The next day, on Feb. 7, at around 7:50 a.m., a Fairfax officer and a Mariemont officer went to the home of the 14-year-old accused and spoke with the teen and his father. This is where the newly released body cam begins.
After speaking with the father and the teen, body camera footage shows the officers allowing the teen to leave for Mariemont High School. The Mariemont Police Chief said on Tuesday that his investigators needed to verify more information before confirming a credible threat.
The 14-year-old was pulled out of class later that day and arrested by police, according to Mariemont police.