Suspect detained in Chaffee school threat

A suspect has confessed he wrote the message threatening to shoot Chaffee High School principal Brad Blackman, investigators reported.

Chaffee Police Chief Jim Chambers told the Scott County Signal on Tuesday that a 14-year-old boy was turned over to juvenile authorities Friday. The boy confessed to the threat Saturday at the detention center.

Superintendent Ken Latham said March 21 the school's principal was threatened in a message found March 20 scrawled in pencil on a small piece of wood under a bathroom sink. Latham said Blackman was mentioned twice in the message.

Rumors spread on social media that the message contained a more general threat about a mass shooting. Latham said it was "something like that," but said the threat was mainly directed at the principal.

"Our investigation is now done; the case is deemed over to the juvenile authorities, and they will handle the case from here," said Chambers.

Emails sent to Latham for comment on recent developments had not been returned as of Tuesday evening.

The district has scheduled classes normally since the threat was made, except for an added presence of local law enforcement.

Some parents were upset they found out about the threat from their children rather than being informed from the school district.

When asked about the communication, Latham said officials wanted to keep the information in house and not tell parents until they had more information and determined who the suspect was.

Latham also left a message for parents on March 23, apologizing for not contacting them sooner and that all administrative efforts at the time were going toward the investigation.