Grand Blanc HS student charged in school shooting text joke - ABC 12 – WJRT – Flint, MI

(02/07/13) - It was a school shooting text message that caused panic, a big police response and even played a part in an entire county calling off classes.

The student was joking, but he's probably not laughing now.

Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton charged him.

The 15-year-old Grand Blanc High School student faces one count of false report of terrorism - a 20 year felony.

He's been charged as a juvenile so his name has not been released.

"Although it was a prank and although he was making a joke, it's just not funny," says Leyton.

Leyton wants other students to know if they do something like he did they will get it trouble too.

"These mistakes have consequences," Leyton says.  "It's going to get you in serious hot water with police agencies and the prosecutor and the courts."

The text was sent in December, right before holiday break, just days after the horrific school shootings at Sandy Hook and right in the middle of mass rumors about an alleged "end of the world" student revolt.

Grand Blanc High School was already on alert and Leyton says the teen was at first texting his mom about that.

"Then he decided to up the ante and play a practical joke on her and tell her he was hiding in the closet because there's shooting going on," says Leyton.  "The whole thing really only last six minutes from the moment when he texted his mother to when he texted her and said it's a joke."

"In those six minutes she called 911," he says.

The school was locked down.  Police from a number of agencies responded right away and quickly determined there was no threat.

ABC12 was unable to reach Grand Blanc Schools Superintendent Dr. Norm Abdella for comment.  In January, he said four students had been suspended because of the text message prank.