17-Year-Old Racine Student Arrested after Making Threat to Blow up School

On Thursday March 24 at 8:20 AM the Racine County Communications Center received information regarding a potential threat at the Union Grove High School. Communications Center staff advised that a concerned citizen had information that students and staff may be the target of violence by a member of the student body according to a release from the Racine County Sheriff's Office.

Sheriff’s deputies immediately responded to the high school and determined that a 17-year-old male student had in fact made verbal threats to blow up the high school and cause great bodily harm to students and staff. Deputies were able to quickly identify the student and took him into custody without incident.

The suspect, 17-year-old David Kopecky, was brought to the Racine County Jail where he is being held on felony and misdemeanor charges.

Sheriff’s investigators were able to determine that this was an isolated incident and there were no other parties involved in communicating or carrying out any threats.

Although staff and students were never directly in harms way Sheriff Christopher Schmaling and members of his office say they take these types of threats very seriously. Sheriff Schmaling immediately directed additional resources to the high school and surrounding communities as a precautionary measure to ensure public safety.

The investigation into this incident is ongoing.