GILRALTAR (WWJ) - School is still out for students in the Gibraltar School District this week, but that didn't stop someone from making social media threats towards Carlson High School and its administration.
District officials said they became aware of the threat after the Gibraltar Police Department informed them late Tuesday (Jan. 2) evening that an individual made a threatening statement on social media toward Carlson High School and/or its administration.
Principal Jessica Shultz said in a letter on Square.com to families and staff that the person who made the threat was not a student at the school and despite class being out due to winter break, their top priority remains making sure everyone in the CHS community remains safe.
Shultz went on to say that local police investigating the threat and found it to be non-credible and "took appropriate action."
Shultz took the opportunity to remind staff, students and their families to remain vigilant when it comes to threats -- and highlighted the seriousness of making them.
“As a reminder, please continue to talk to your children about the importance of speaking up if they see or hear things that may present a danger," Shultz continued. "Continue to monitor their social media as well as your own for any information that you feel should be shared with district administration or local law enforcement. Additionally, please help us in educating students so they understand that comments made referencing violence against schools or against members of the school community, no matter how seemingly innocent or what tone they are delivered in, will be taken seriously and dealt with to the fullest extent legally and within the school district.”
Anyone who becomes aware of a possible threat is encouraged to call their local police department immediately, as someone did when saw this week's threat, Shultz added.
"We appreciate and are grateful to those who brought it to the attention of the Gibraltar Police Department as well as for the department’s diligence in keeping our community safe," the principal said.
WWJ's Mike Campbell said is now working through to quickly investigate the situation, find the person who did it and should they find them and find that it was indeed negligence or intentional.
"Then obviously, charges could be filed," Campbell added.