MANSFIELD — Mansfield Police chief Ken Coontz said he would like for Richland County schools, and their parents, to remain calm while the Sheriff’s Department investigates information pertaining to a juvenile with a gun.
Coontz said the juvenile is a 17-year-old boy who went missing Thursday.
“After speaking with Major Joe Masi (of the Sheriff’s Department), I would like to ask all city and county schools to take precaution,” he said. “We are working to collaborate information.”
Coontz said the Sheriff’s Department has been working on information all day and that some of the information has been misrepresented.
“There was a rumor that there were threats to the school,” the police chief said. “That’s not true. The rumors and the threats are not credible.”
Coontz asked districts and families to take normal precautions with their Friday afternoon procedures.
“Under these circumstances and until the Sheriff’s Department can follow up on their leads, schools should take normal precautions.”
