7th grader arrested for threat against Noblesville school

This story was updated 9:07 PM, Nov. 26, 2024

A 7th-grade student at Noblesville East Middle School was arrested Tuesday in connection with a social media threat that targeted the school and prompted the district to close for the day.

The juvenile, whose name has not been released, was taken into custody at a Noblesville residence after FBI investigators identified the student as a suspect. Noblesville police obtained and executed search and arrest warrants at the location, recovering evidence allegedly related to the threat, according to a media release. 

The student is being held at the Hamilton County Juvenile Detention Center on a preliminary charge of intimidation, a Level 6 felony under Indiana law.

The threat, which was made in a video posted overnight, led Noblesville Schools to close all 10 district schools Tuesday, affecting about 10,500 students.

“Out of an abundance of caution, we are closing all schools today after a threat of violence was made toward Noblesville East Middle School overnight,” Noblesville Schools Superintendent Daniel Hile said early Tuesday. “While we don’t have reason to believe the threat is credible, we take every threat seriously and are working with law enforcement to fully investigate.”

According to police, the threat was reported by the FBI’s Indianapolis office to the Noblesville Police Department around 1:34 a.m. Tuesday. Police then notified school officials. 

“We would like to thank the FBI for their expertise and communication throughout this investigation,” police said. “Their assistance was instrumental in locating the alleged suspect.”

This is not the first time Noblesville schools have faced safety concerns. The district has prioritized building security and mental health resources since a 2018 shooting at Noblesville West Middle School, in which a 13-year-old boy shot and injured his teacher and a classmate. That student was held in juvenile detention until his release as an adult in 2023.

Other area school districts have faced threats in recent months. 

In September two juveniles were arrested for allegedly making violent threats to Indianapolis-area school districts

A 12-year-old was taken into custody in one incident, while a 15-year-old was detained in a separate case, according to the Indiana State Police. The names of the schools targeted in the threats were not released by police.

The Noblesville investigation is ongoing.

Eric Weddle is WFYI's education team editor. Contact Eric at eweddle@wfyi.org or follow on X at @ericweddle.