School Shooting Threats Made in Notebook Lead to Stoughton High Student’s Arrest

A student faces charges after a notebook containing “disturbing plans for a school shooting type attack” was discovered by a teacher and turned over to , according to Executive Officer Robert Devine.

Devine said these threats were allegedly written back in August, but were discovered towards the end of the school day on Friday, April 13, SHS Principal Matt Colantonio said.

The student, 18-year-old Sean Ivaldi, has been arrested. He was arraigned on Friday, April 20, and held after a dangerousness hearing on Monday, April 23, Devine said.

The student is charged with four counts of threats to commit a crime; terroristic threats; and disturbing a school assembly.

In an email sent out to subscribers of the Stoughton High listserv on April 24, Colantonio wrote:

“A student's notebook was turned into the main office by a teacher. This notebook contained some written threats directed towards a few specific students and some staff members. The administration followed standard safety protocol. The student was removed from the high school by administration and Stoughton Police without incident.

“Those mentioned specifically in the writing were contacted immediately. Students and staff at SHS were never in any danger, and the incident is being handled by the proper authorities at this point. Stoughton Police and the high school administration worked cooperatively in addressing the situation.”

In a follow-up phone call, Colantonio said that the student has been removed from Stoughton High and there is no safety risk for those mentioned in the notebook.

The student told police that he didn’t plan on carrying out what was written in the notebook, according to Devine, but Devine said the notebook had “enough detail and concerning material.”

The student was interviewed by police detectives on April 13, evaluated, and then arrested, Devine said.

Devine said police are “confident” this student was the only one involved and police are “confident” the student had no access to firearms.

Still, Devine said that the police “can’t take the chance. [We] have to take it seriously.”

Colantonio said while it is an “unwanted situation,” school administration were quickly able to contain it.

Devine said this is a case where “the system worked.” The situation was immediately brought to the attention of Juvenile Detective Roger Hardy, Devine said. He said the police and schools have a “very good” long standing working relationship.

Devine said the police “would much rather deal” with a case like this where there are “charges for a potential crime,” than having to deal with “charges for a tragedy.”