NORTHAMPTON TWP., Pa. -
"It was a credible threat."
Those are the words no one at Council Rock South High School wanted to hear. But when a 14-year-old student started making verbal threats and police found two handguns and a replica AK-47 at his home, authorities moved quickly to stop that threat in its tracks.
"He was going to bring a gun and knives into the school building Friday morning and randomly kill students and staff," said Northampton Police Chief Barry Pilla.
Police arrested the high school freshman and his mother at their Cypress Avenue home in Richboro after finding two 9mm handguns and a very real looking, replica AK-47 in his room.
The handguns were fully functional but unloaded.
As for the fake AK-47, Pilla said, "If he confronted law enforcement officers with that replica, I believe they would shoot him."
The threat and the discovery of the guns, along with knives, machetes and swords at the teens' house, caused police to search the school after district officials canceled classes for the day.
"Nothing of evidentiary value was discovered in the school," Pilla explained.
School Superintendent Mark Klein said, "We will always be concerned about the evil that permeates the community and the things we need to worry about."
The boy's mother, Lizabeth Donohoe, was arrested at the home for possession of weapons and marijuana along with endangering the welfare of a child.
The teen's father, Mario Russo Jr. was charged with resisting arrest and obstructing justice.
"Unbelievable. It's unbelievable. I live right around the corner," said neighbor Michelle Chech.
Rick Houser, the father of four students, said of his emotions, "I'm shocked, I'm concerned, I'm scared, I'm nervous -- a lot of emotions going on -- angry."
"We very well may have dodged a really large bullet," Pilla said.
The teen and his mother remain behind bars on a variety of charges. His father was released
The tip that led police to the teenage suspect came from a fellow student who told his mother, and she went to police with the student.
Now, authorities are calling that brave student "a hero."
