Two Oxford Middle School students were suspended and could potentially face criminal charges because someone overheard them allegedly talking about carrying out a school shooting.

The Oakland County Sheriff’s Office investigated and “we determined that there was zero credible threat” to the school, said Sgt. Frank Lenz, of the Oxford Twp. substation.

On Sunday morning, at approximately 11:30 a.m., an anonymous tip was received by the Michigan State Police tip line regarding an alleged threat to OMS. While aboard a school bus, two male students, ages 13 and 14, had been overheard allegedly discussing the idea of shooting up the school.

The tip, including the name of one of the suspects, was passed along to the sheriff’s office, which took immediate action.

“We got right on it and within minutes, we had deputies up at the (middle) school and then we had other deputies . . . en route to the suspect’s house,” Lenz said.

According to the sheriff’s office, the student admitted to making the statements, but his parents assured deputies that their son has no access to firearms.

“We determined (the threat) wasn’t credible based on the interview,” Lenz said.

During their conversation with the first student, deputies learned the identity of the second student, then made contact with him.

“The second student recalled the conversation, but indicated that they were just joking around,” the sheriff’s office reported. “The student’s parents were advised . . . and (they) assured deputies that the family firearms are secure and that their son had no access to them.”

According to Lenz, the conversation on the bus involving the alleged threats contained no specific plans or details such as a date, time, method or individual targets.

“It was very vague,” the sergeant said. “It was talking about doing a shooting and what it would be like to do that at OMS.”

“We’re giving all the information to the prosecutor’s office for them to review and determine whether or not any charges should be issued,” Lenz noted.

Under Michigan law, the two students could be charged with “making a terrorist threat.”

The law states, “A person is guilty of making a terrorist threat” if he or she “threatens to commit an act of terrorism and communicates the threat to any other person.”

“Not (having) the intent or capability of committing the act” is “not a defense to a prosecution,” the law states.

“It doesn’t matter what their intent is or whether or not they have the capability, just communicating that (threat to another person is a crime),” Lenz stressed.

Someone convicted of this crime, which is a felony, can face up to 20 years in prison and/or a fine of not more than $20,000.

The same penalty applies for “making a false report of terrorism” to “any other person, knowing the report is false.”

Lenz said the “frequency” with which school threats are occurring these days is “ridiculous” and “a lot of these kids don’t realize the seriousness of” uttering a threat, even in jest.

“If they say anything off the cuff to any other person, that can (fall) under the definition of terrorist threat,” he said. “We take all these (threats) seriously. Too many of them are happening in light of current events.”

Lenz encouraged parents to explain to their children the severe consequences of making a threat or reporting a false one.

“Make sure they fully understand that it’s not a laughing or a funny matter,” he said. “It’s going to be treated seriously.”