Deputies: Student threatens to shoot students and teachers at Up - WTOC-TV: Savannah, Beaufort, SC, News, Weather & Sports

SPARTANBURG COUNTY, SC (WYFF) - A teenager is being evaluated after threats he made to shoot students and teachers at Upstate high school.

According to Spartanburg County Deputies, a 17-year-old, while talking to his ex-girlfriend, stated that on "zero day, he will shoot and kill 42 students and eight teachers" at Byrnes High School.

The teen went on to state that he had a 38 handgun and a 12 gauge shotgun, said deputies.

Officer Roland McAbee with the Duncan police summoned the teen's parents to the school. Once the father arrived and stated that he did in fact have access to those weapons, the student was suspended by the school administration pending an internal investigation and was issued a trespass notice as well, said deputies.

Once it was determined that the teen lived in Spartanburg County, the Duncan Police Department requested that the Sheriff Department take over the investigation.

According to deputies, after careful consultation with school officials, the decision was made to handle the situation with a detention order as opposed to an arrest warrant.

A probate judge was consulted, who issued a detention order on the teen after being presented with all the available information, said deputies.

Officers responded to the teen's residence, where he was taken into custody without incident, and several weapons were taken into evidence for safekeeping, deputies said.

According to deputies, the teen was transported to a local hospital, where he is being evaluated by medical personnel.

Because the situation is being handled as a mental health issue, the teen's name is not being released at this time.

Deputies said, "the student who brought this matter to the attention of school officials should be commended for their willingness to come forward, since their actions prevented a potentially dangerous situation."