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BELOIT -- The individual charged for making a threat toward the Knox school building has been identified.
Austin Offill, 19, Alliance, was arrested Friday by the Alliance Police Department, charged with third-degree felony making terroristic threats for allegedly posting three comments on unrelated YouTube videos stating that he "wanted to shoot up Knox." Those threats prompted the building to temporarily close Aug. 26-28 before re-opening Aug. 31 with a police officer stationed at the building during the school day.
Offill is scheduled for arraignment today at 2:30 p.m.
"We're very grateful that nobody has been hurt, and we hope that whatever is going on with this person they can do what's right and will never do this sort of thing to anybody again," West Branch Superintendent Matthew Manley said.
On Aug. 27, the Sebring Police Department and field agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) executed a search warrant at a Sebring residence connected to the YouTube account. According to a press release issued by the Sebring Police Department, one person "was detained and interviewed by law enforcement" during the operation, and that "authorities determined that the individual detained may potentially be a relative of the person who originally posted the alleged threats."
In a letter to parents Friday, Manley said that a law enforcement officer will remain stationed at the Knox building from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Sept. 11. Beginning the week of Sept. 14, school will return to its regular law-enforcement presence and schedule at the building.
Manley explained that during the school year West Branch maintains a law enforcement presence on campus throughout the school day, but that when school is not in session for the year, officers spend less time on campus during the day.
"We thought it was necessary until there was an arrest to keep an officer there. Then after the arrest we decided to keep things as they were this week as a way of helping reassure our families and help them feel as comfortable as possible. We wanted them to know there would be an officer there the whole day for the remainder of the week," Manley said.
Manley said that the district had been blessed to have the Sebring, Goshen Township and Alliance police departments, along with the Mahoning County Sheriff's Office and FBI collaborating closely and seamlessly on the investigation. He also thanked all of the officials that assisted with the investigation for their diligence and dedication.
"I commend law enforcement for their thoroughness. They did everything, took what they needed to analyze because it looked easy at the beginning. You have this handle and trace it back, but it turns out that it was someone else using it. So, to be able to trace it to that person is something that is very difficult to do," Manley said.