Motley, there is substance to the concern that false charges will destroy a person's life.  There is also substance to the concern for safety of teenagers at school.  Wisdom is the ability to address the substance of multiple concerns to achieve an optimum solution.  In this case, the problem is the media.  The police and others could do their jobs without disclosing all the allegations to the media which of course blasts the allegations to everyone.  Likely the media will not even report on the topic if it turns out that the accused had no firearm.  Might have beens have no place in judgment of an individual.  Of course, he could be dangerous.  Texting does not constitute a meaningful crime.  As a teenager, he acts out.  Like those teenagers who joined the military to rebel (as you discuss elsewhere).  It is important to address threats to the safety of innocents, but it is also important to restrict consideration to real threats rather than might have beens or coulda beens.