Harlan teen accused of threats

A Harlan, Iowa, teen has been arrested after allegedly writing a note in which he threatened to shoot several students and himself.

Police investigators said the 18-year-old student has been arrested on suspicion of making terroristic threats.

Superintendent Bob Broomfield of the Harlan Community School District said officials at the high school became aware of the threat shortly before 11 a.m. Thursday, after a student told officials about the note.

“If there's a chance a student can harm himself or others, we contact the appropriate authorities,” Broomfield said.

In this instance, Broomfield said, administrators had the student in the school office and determined that the "threat was non-existent." School administrators decided there was no need to shut down the school, he said.

Both police and Broomfield described the note as general in nature, with no threats against specific students.

School officials gave the note to police investigators. The teen was booked into the Shelby County Jail.