16-year-old charged with threats of violence after District 196 high school closures
ISD 196 closed its five high schools Tuesday — Apple Valley, Rosemount, Eagan, Eastview and the School of Environmental Studies — dismissing students and transporting them home out of an abundance of caution while investigators probed potential online threats. Apple Valley police arrested a 16‑year‑old in Eagan in connection with a social‑media video that displayed weapons (none were found during a search); the juvenile has been formally charged with threats of violence and the case moves to juvenile court, and authorities say the high school threats are not believed related to a separate middle‑school threat in Burnsville.
📌 Key Facts
- ISD 196 closed/dismissed its high schools out of an "abundance of caution" while working with local law enforcement after potential online threats.
- Students who were already at the affected high schools were dismissed and transported home by district buses.
- District 196 listed the affected schools as Apple Valley High, Rosemount High, Eagan High, Eastview High and the School of Environmental Studies.
- Apple Valley police arrested a 16-year-old in Eagan believed responsible for a social‑media video that targeted four high schools; the video displayed weapons, but officers found no weapons during a subsequent search.
- The 16-year-old has been formally charged with threats of violence; the filing moves the case from arrest to prosecution in juvenile court and is tied to the incident that prompted the ISD 196 high school closures.
- Police said the high school threats and a separate Tuesday‑afternoon threat to Burnsville middle schools are not believed to be related; Burnsville police have identified and questioned two juveniles in that separate case.
- Apple Valley police said the Monday video threat appeared to piggyback on an earlier Sunday threat related to a planned walkout, but the arrested teen is not suspected in the original Sunday threat.
- Districts reported there was no ongoing threat and that classes were expected to resume Wednesday.
📊 Relevant Data
In the 2024-2025 school year, the student demographics in Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan ISD 196 are 55% White, 15% Black, 13.5% Hispanic, 7% Asian, 9% two or more races, 0.4% American Indian, and 0.1% Pacific Islander.
District 196 enrollment remains stable and exceeds projections — district196.org
In 2012, students of color made up 28% of enrollment in District 196.
District 196: Students of Color Make Up 28 Percent of District Enrollment — Patch
In Minnesota schools during the 2018-2019 school year, Black students made up 18% of the student body but accounted for 54% of suspensions and expulsions for subjective behaviors.
Suspensions and Expulsions Report — Minnesota Department of Human Rights
In Minnesota schools during the 2015-2016 school year, Black students were 8 times more likely to be suspended or expelled than White students.
Suspensions and Expulsions Report — Minnesota Department of Human Rights
In Florida public schools during the 2021-2022 school year, Black students comprised 29% of threat assessment referrals but only 23% of the student body.
Youth Violence Project Kerere APA Poster — University of Virginia
📰 Sources (4)
- A 16-year-old has been formally charged with threats of violence in connection with the social-media threat that led to Dakota County high school closures.
- The filing moves the case from arrest to prosecution in juvenile court as the investigation continues.
- The charge is tied to the incident that prompted ISD 196 to dismiss/close high schools earlier in the week.
- Apple Valley police arrested a 16-year-old in Eagan believed responsible for the social‑media video targeting four high schools; the video displayed weapons but no weapons were found during a search.
- Burnsville police identified and are questioning two juveniles regarding a separate Tuesday-afternoon threat to Burnsville middle schools.
- Police say the high school and middle school threats are not believed to be related; districts report no ongoing threat and classes resume Wednesday.
- Apple Valley PD says the Monday video threat appeared to piggyback on an earlier Sunday threat related to a planned walkout; the arrested teen is not suspected in the original Sunday threat.
- Students already at high schools are being dismissed and transported home by district buses.
- District 196 listed the affected schools: Apple Valley High, Rosemount High, Eagan High, Eastview High, and the School of Environmental Studies.
- District states closures are 'out of an abundance of caution' while working with local law enforcement to investigate.