Neumann-Goretti student arrested over threats

A 17-year-old student at Ss. John Neumann and Maria Goretti High School in South Philly was arrested earlier this week over allegations that he threatened some of his peers.

Kenneth Gavin, a spokesman for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, said in an email that the school's administrators learned on Friday that the teen had threatened "a handful of students."

The threat was reported to Philadelphia police, and information about the incident was shared with families of the school's students on Sunday, Gavin said.

Officer Christine O'Brien, a police spokeswoman, said there is no evidence that the teen brought any weapons into school last week. Investigators did, however, find a video of the teen playing with a "butterfly knife" when they searched his home, she said.

The teen's name is not being released because he is still a minor. O'Brien said the student was charged with terroristic threats, harassment and simple assault.

Gavin said the student has been expelled from Neumann and Goretti, and will be barred from enrolling in another archdiocesan high school.

It's not clear what prompted the teen to threaten the other students.

"In consultation with the police, we have every reason to believe that the school is safe at this time and that the threats originated from and were isolated to one individual," Gavin said.

As a precautionary move, private security officers will be posted at Neumann and Goretti, located at 10th and Moore streets, from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. for the remainder of the school year, Gavin said.