Boy allegedly threatened elementary school students in Ogdensburg with violence

OGDENSBURG, N.Y. (WWNY) – A student at John F. Kennedy Elementary School in Ogdensburg is accused of threatening violence against a classmate.

Ogdensburg Police Chief Mark Kearns said the boy, who is under 12, allegedly posted a video on Snapchat Tuesday night.

He says the video shows the boy appearing to pose with a gun and threaten another student.

School Superintendent Kevin Kendall said the district was made aware of the video and turned it over to Ogdensburg police.

The police said they were informed about the incident at 7:45 a.m. on Wednesday morning, about 20 minutes before classes began at the elementary school.

According to Chief Kearns, the boy got off his bus and was immediately taken to the school office for questioning.

According to the police chief, the boy admitted to posting the video but denied owning any weapons. According to Kearns, the apparent firearm in the video turned out to be an “air-powered toy gun.”

He also says the boy's parents gave police and the St. Lawrence County Sheriff's Office permission to search their home for firearms. There were none.

The boy was handed over to his mother.

According to Kearns, current law prohibits police from charging a child under the age of 12 with a crime.

He says in the past, police have been able to file charges and refer the children to probation, which would have offered services such as counseling and supervision.

According to Kearns, the current law deprives the police of the ability to intervene.

“It’s one less tool for crime prevention,” he said.

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