Flint Township View

Many Genesee County schools are closed Friday

Districts taking “mental health day” after Oxford shooting

GENESEE COUNTY – As of 6:30 p.m., nine school districts in Genesee County have announced they will be closed Friday for what they are called a “Mental Health Day.”

The decision to close comes just two days after a 15-year-old student shot and killed four fellow students at Oxford High School in Oakland County.

Since then, districts throughout the state have struggled with uneasy student populations, parents and staff. The tragic incident in Oxford has also led to speculation online about threats and possible “copycat” attacks.

Earlier today, Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton charged a 17-year-old student of Flint

Southwestern Classical Academy with threatening to shoot up the school.

An assistant principal at the school was alerted to the incident and made a report to Flint police. The

police investigation revealed the student was on her way to school on a school bus this morning when

she recorded a video on her phone in a rap-style message in which threats of shooting up the school “like Oxford” were made and posted to social media.

The student is charged as a juvenile with one count of false threat of terrorism and one count of using a

computer to commit a crime, each a 20-year felony.

Closed tomorrow are the following school districts: Bendle, Davison, Fenton, Genesee, Goodrich, Linden, Montrose, Mt. Morris, Swartz Creek and Westwood Heights.

The list also includes Lapeer schools, Millington and St. Paul Lutheran.

Check with your individual school districts regarding Friday sporting events and other extra-curricular activities. – G.G.