LYON COUNTY —Police departments and school districts across Kansas continue to investigate online school threats and make arrests.
At USD 253 in Emporia, it was reported that a student, in an email, had threatened to bring a gun to school on Thursday and was warning other students not to attend school that day.
Officers located the student making the threats. It was determined the student did not have access to any firearms and no students were at risk. The case will be referred to the Lyon County Attorney’s Office for their review on possible charges.
At USD 428 in Great Bend, Superintendent Khris Thexton alerted district families and staff that another social media threat was reported directly to Great Bend Police Department on the evening of Sept. 25. Police determined the threat was not true.
"We are relieved to report that law enforcement officers determined this threat poses no danger to our students."
On Tuesday, Salina South Middle School administration and officers with the Salina Police Department responded to a threat made by a student against the school. The incident took place during the fourth period, around the noon hour, and involved a 13-year-old student who made threatening remarks to other students.
According to Salina Police Captain David Villanueva, the student told classmates not to come to school the next day because there would be a shooting. These comments were corroborated through an investigation by the school's resource officer and staff, who spoke to multiple students.
As a result, the student was arrested and taken to the juvenile detention facility in Junction City on charges of criminal threat.
In Ellis on Thursday, police arrested a 14-year-old for allegedly making a school threat, according to a press release Police Chief Avery Smith. USD 388 and police realized the threat was a hoax and not an active threat. The case was referred to the county attorney for charges.
USD 428 Superintendent Thexton reminded, "It’s also an important to never “share” a threat on social media. Instead, take a screenshot and report it to the police or school officials."