Student arrested for making threats at CT football game

NORWICH, Conn. – Everyone on the soccer field and in the stands at Friday night's Norwich Free Academy (NFA) home game was evacuated shortly before the game began due to a social media threat against the game. An arrest was made.

The FBI notified Norwich police about a Snapchat photo posted from the stands at the NFA soccer game around 8:50 p.m. that threatened a shooting, according to police. Police in charge of security at the soccer game were notified of the threat as the game entered its final two minutes, police said.

The hundreds of students and spectators were immediately evacuated from the stands and field, police said. The players “left the field at the exact moment the buzzer sounded,” Norwich Free Academy said in a statement.

Using information from the FBI, police and school resource officers quickly identified and located the student responsible for the threat, police said. The student, who attends another school in Norwich, was arrested and will be kept out of school pending a review by the education authority, according to police.

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Police also conducted searches of open buildings and found no threats.

“Norwich Police would like to express our thanks to the staff at Norwich Free Academy, as well as all students and spectators, for their co-operation and the safe evacuation of the event,” Norwich Police said. “All threats are taken seriously and thoroughly investigated by the Norwich Police Department and those responsible will be held accountable.”

“We are grateful for the work of our campus security department, grateful for our partners at NPD and grateful for all bystanders who followed instructions to leave campus immediately,” Norwich Free Academy said.

Anyone with information about criminal activity in Norwich is asked to call the Norwich Police Department at (860) 886-5561. Tips can be left anonymously.

The NFA won its game against Fairfield Warde 33-32.

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