Detroit Catholic Central, other area schools canceled classes on All Saints Day after image was circulated via social media
This story has been updated
NOVI — Novi police have recommended charges against five individuals in response to violent threats that caused Novi Detroit Catholic Central High School to close on Friday, Nov. 1.
The all-boys school was one of more than a half-dozen Catholic schools to cancel Friday classes out of concern for students' safety.
Catholic Central initially received threats via the social media platform Snapchat, and the threatening post was later circulated among the Warren De La Salle and Warren Regina communities. All three schools canceled classes Nov. 1, along with Orchard Lake St. Mary's Preparatory, Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice, University of Detroit Jesuit High School and others who closed out of caution for students' safety.
The Detroit News reported Novi police have submitted requests for charges against five people for allegedly making terrorist threats. The felony is punishable by up to 20 years in prison. According to the News, detectives working with federal agents identified three Catholic Central students who were accomplices to the alleged maker of the original social media post, an Ohio resident.
A second image was circulated among students by another Catholic Central student, not involved in the first incident, the News reports.
Catholic Central had a scheduled faculty/staff in-service day on Monday and resumed classes on Tuesday. De La Salle resumed its normal schedule on Monday.
The threats came a day after De La Salle forfeited its state playoff football game scheduled for Friday amid reports of hazing at the school. De La Salle president John M. Knight said the threat had nothing to do with the hazing incidents and the Warren Police Department's investigation.
Knight said the school can't comment on the ongoing hazing investigation, but praised Warren police for their response to both incidences.
“The threat did not involve us, and the Warren Police Department has been very professional in doing their due diligence,” Knight said.
Knight said though the threat did not originate at De La Salle, the school chose to exercise an abundance of caution, given the circumstances.
“Someone in the community received an image, an image sent to schools all over the archdiocese,” Knight said. “This person called us, saying, 'I have this image my family received.' If you get something like that, you are not going to blow it off, because obviously this is a concern.”
University of Detroit Jesuit High School also canceled classes on Friday, and Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice and Orchard Lake St. Mary’s had early releases, in response to the threats to nearby Catholic schools.
All of the schools are independent Catholic schools, with most run by religious orders.
St. Regis School in Bloomfield Hills, next door to Brother Rice, had an early release, out of courtesy to Brother Rice parents who also have children at St. Regis and elected to pick up students at both schools at the same time.
A diocesan school, Bishop Foley High School in Madison Heights, ordered a “level one lockdown” Friday, meaning all the outside doors are locked and visitors to the school must buzz in and be personally escorted to their location.
Bishop Foley did not receive any threats, said principal Frank Accavitti, who sent a letter to Bishop Foley parents Friday morning.
Accavitti said Bishop Foley initiated the lockdown “out of an abundance of caution,” given the threats at nearby Catholic schools.
“We have contacted local police and will keep the building secured throughout the day,” Accavitti said in his letter to parents. “We consider it safer that the students remain here in a full day of school than dismiss them early. However, if you would like to pick up your student, you may contact the school to do so.”
Bishop Foley canceled its scheduled Mass for All Saints Day. Detroit Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron's office offered a dispensation to any student who couldn't fulfill their holy day of obligation because of a canceled Mass.
Kevin Kijewski, superintendent of Catholic schools for the Archdiocese of Detroit, sent a statement to all pastors, presidents and principals in the archdiocese on Friday morning.
“This is to advise you of a developing situation involving several of our Catholic high schools this morning,” Kijewski wrote. “Online threats and messaging have prompted them to cancel classes as well as planned liturgies or assemblies involving the students. In all cases, local law enforcement has been advised.
“If your school is in session today, I would urge extra-added attention to behaviors and social media exchanges,” the letter continues. “If you have specific concerns, law enforcement should be advised immediately. When and where there is a decision to cancel or modify today’s schedule, please keep the Catholic Schools Department apprised.”
A version of this story was originally published Friday, Nov. 1. It was updated Tuesday, Nov. 5.
