Groton — Four Fitch High School students have been charged with second-degree breach of peace, and one also with second-degree threatening, following social media threats Thursday night, the Town of Groton Police Department said in a news release Friday morning.

The four suspects were given juvenile court referrals and the school district took appropriate disciplinary action, police said. Police do not release the names of people under age 18 who have been charged.

Groton Superintendent Michael Graner declined to get into specifics but said the action was "in accordance with school board policy and state law."

Police said they were made aware Thursday night of a potential altercation that was to occur on Friday. Graner emailed parents and staff about midnight of a potential threat of violence, saying police were "investigating social media reports and interviewing several students." 

Officers investigated overnight, and at 5:45 a.m. Friday, Graner called parents of high school students to inform them the threat had been resolved.

Police said that about 10:30 p.m., they received multiple complaints regarding apparent threats made on social media, with initial reports indicating students were planning on bringing knives to school.

"It actually initially came to our attention through an anonymous tip line that we maintain at the high school," Graner told The Day, "so students called it in, and then shortly thereafter, other parents and students started to contact the police department with more specific information."

Through the investigation, "numerous" witnesses were interviewed and four juvenile suspects were identified, police said, and interviewed in the presence of their parents or guardians.

This revealed that the threats of violence originated from a previous confrontation among the group of students, police said. One person sent a picture of a small knife and indicated he would use it if the others attacked him.

Police said in the news release, "None of the exchanges threatened violence toward the school or the student population at large but was contained to this group whose members had an ongoing feud."

Town police put additional patrol officers at Fitch High School on Friday in addition to the full-time school resource officer, department Chief Louis Fusaro told The Day. Police intend to do the same early next week.

"There is no indications of violence towards anyone else," Fusaro said, "but we know in these types of situations, people feel safe when they see police officers."

e.moser@theday.com