Chittenango, N.Y. — A 16-year-old male Chittenango High School student was arraigned in village court Tuesday and charged with third-degree falsely reporting an incident, a misdemeanor.

He was charged after three fellow students heard him talk earlier in the day at the school library about bringing a gun to the school, and one of those students, a female, reported the conversation to school administrators, said Jeff Paul, Chittenango village police chief.

“The young person who brought this to light is the hero in this situation,” Paul said. “She didn’t evaluate what he said. She brought it to the attention of the school, and the school acted properly . . . by notifying the police department.”

The 16-year-old was placed on supervised release with the Madison County Probation Department and barred from returning to school property or participating in school events. He is set to return to village court at a later date, Paul said.

Paul said it was especially important to be vigilant after last Friday’s shooting rampage at a school in Connecticut that killed 26 people, including 20 first-graders.

“That’s what we need to do to keep our schools safe,” Paul said. “These statements can’t be taken lightly in today’s society.”

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