BUCKHANNON – A juvenile girl was arrested for allegedly making felony terroristic threats after an incident Friday at Buckhannon-Upshur Middle School, police said.

PRO Officers T.A. Mendez and B.K. Wright and Upshur County deputies were notified of an incident at approximately 8 a.m. Friday morning at B-UMS, according to a Sheriff’s Office release.

Officers were notified that several children at the school had received messages on their personal electronic devices via airdrop while waiting for classes to start inside the school gymnasium, the release states.

The message included a list of sixth-grade students, and approximately 34 students were part of a “shooters list,” the release states. All of the children listed are students at Buckhannon-Upshur Middle School.

The release states that after the initial airdrop took place, the list was quickly spread by other students, who were still in possession of their phones because the actual school day had not yet started. 

Buckhannon-Upshur Middle School Principal Samantha Lepute contacted Upshur County Chief Security Officer Theron Caynor and an investigation began, according to the press release. PRO officers and Upshur County deputies concluded the investigation and allegedly obtained a confession from the female juvenile.

According to the press release, the incident caused widespread panic within the community, and numerous parents showed up at the school.

The juvenile was transported to a detention facility to await future court action after a detention hearing.