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Three Maryland middle school students have been charged with hate crimes after allegedly posting threats on social media against Black students at their school.
The Frederick County Sheriff's Office responded to Middletown Middle School Wednesday morning after reports that students posted disturbing images to Instagram and Snapchat. The images allegedly showed the students with what appeared to be guns making threats toward Black students, WJZ reported.
This is just the latest incident of perceived threats made against Black students. Other recent cases included two California high school soccer players taunted with animal noises during a match and an alleged "slave auction" held by students at a North Carolina school.
In Maryland, deputies interviewed each student along with their parents or guardian. The students voluntarily handed over their cellphones, from which officers forensically downloaded the materials that are currently under review, the department said in a statement on Facebook.
Additionally, investigators searched the students' bedrooms for the firearms displayed in the photos, several of which were deemed to be fake. Deputies recovered two fake guns, including an airsoft gun and a BB gun. A real handgun was also recovered, and one of the students was charged with possession of a handgun, according to WJZ.
"This investigation is still ongoing. We still have a lot to cover," Lieutenant Jason Deater said, according to WFMD. "We have additional students that may have received these messages directly from the students that we are holding responsible today that we need to interview."
Deputies believe the photos were taken by somebody in January or February and were later posted on social media. Authorities said that the photos have been shared numerous times, but if the photos were not received directly from a person involved in the case, the incident does not need to be reported, the department said on Facebook.
Authorities said there was no imminent threat to the school and at no point was the school evacuated or put into lockdown. However, some families decided to move their children to virtual learning because of the potential threats, WUSA reported.
"The Frederick County Sheriff's Office takes all threats seriously and investigates each threat with the utmost importance. Crimes of this nature will not be tolerated by the FCSO or the Frederick County Public Schools," police spokesman Todd Wivell said in a statement to Newsweek.
Dr. Eric Louers-Phillips, the school district's executive director of public affairs, said the students in the photographs would not be allowed back onto school property at this time and that this type of behavior will not be tolerated in their school district, WFMD added.
"Disciplinary actions from FCPS [Frederick County Public Schools] will be forthcoming pending the completion of the investigation by our Sheriff's Office," Louers-Phillips was quoted by WFMD.
Newsweek has reached out to Middletown Middle School for comment.
The names of the minors charged or their exact ages have not been released, but they are all under the age of 16, WFMD added.
Update 3/11/22, 5:20 p.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
