Albany, NY – A 12-year-old student has been arrested and charged with Making a Threat of Mass Harm against Stephen and Harriet Myers Middle School, the Albany Police Department confirmed Saturday.
Police were alerted to the threat on February 21, 2026, through a messaging platform, indicating planned violence at the school on Monday, February 23, 2026. A subsequent safety check of the school grounds determined no immediate danger existed.
The investigation led officers to identify the student as the source of the threats, which were disseminated via Snapchat, according to police. Due to the student’s age, their name is being withheld.
The student received an appearance ticket and is scheduled to appear in Albany County Probation Services on Tuesday morning, February 24, 2026.
Authorities have stated that the Albany Police Department has been in close communication with the City School District of Albany, and have confirmed that no further threats have been identified. The police department emphasized the seriousness of making threats of any kind.
This incident follows similar threats made against other Albany schools in May 2025. According to a statement released by the City School District of Albany at that time, William S. Hackett Middle School and at least one Albany charter school were also targeted with threatening messages on Snapchat, which included both threats of violence and hate speech. Those threats prompted increased police and security presence, and lockout procedures, at Myers and Hackett Middle Schools on May 13, 2025.
The Albany Police Department is urging parents and guardians to discuss the potential consequences of making violent threats, particularly on social media, with their children.
