Teenage girl charged after threat made to Hamilton school

A Hamilton police cruiser can be seen in this undated filed photo.

A 14-year-old girl has been charged after a threat was made at a Hamilton school.

On Wednesday, police said they were investigating several threats made against schools in the area. They released few details about the threats, but letters to parents from the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board said that one threat at Westdale Secondary School, near Main Street and Longwood Road South, was "related to a shooting."

The school will be closed Friday as a precaution, according to a letter sent to parents.

"The decision to close was made by Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB) as a result of new information about a potential threat to school safety," the letter said.

At Bennetto Elementary School, located near John and Burlington streets, school board officials say a weapon was confiscated from a student.

“A student brought a pellet gun into our school, which is strictly prohibited,” the letter, which was sent to parents Wednesday, said.

“The item was not used. Students were not in danger. Staff addressed the situation immediately and followed safe schools protocols. Police attended our school to provide support.”

On Thursday, police said that additional threats have been made at other schools.

"The threats are similar and involve written messages within the school buildings," officials said.

Police say a teenage girl was charged with mischief after threats were made at St. Jean de Brebeuf, a Catholic secondary school near Rymal Road and Upper Sherman Avenue.

"Police take incidents like these extremely seriously and will continue to work closely with the school boards to help identify the individuals responsible and lay the appropriate criminal charges where a suspect(s) is identified," officials said in a news release issued Thursday.

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 905-546-4925.