COLUMBUS – The Columbus City Schools, Ohio’s largest district, is one of several in the state to receive threats of violence in the wake of a deadly school shooting in Florida.
Even if they are not be serious, each one must be treated that way.
.@ColumbusPolice will deploy additional resources throughout our schools Friday following several threatening social media posts. We investigate all threats and take them seriously. Together we're committed to doing all we can to keep students and staff safe. #SaferTogether
— Columbus City Schools (@ColsCitySchools) February 23, 2018
In conjunction with the district’s safety officials, extra police resources are being deployed at schools in the district Friday after police and school authorities were made aware of threats against several schools in social media posts.
“We investigate all threats and take them seriously. Parents, students, and followers should be reassured that their students will be safe when they go to school,” the Columbus Division of Police said in a post on its Facebook page.
School and law enforcement officials encourage Ohioans to call 844-SAFEROH to report any unusual activity.
Several school districts in Ohio, including those in Westerville and London have reported investigating threats in recent days.
.WestervillePD charged a student today with Inducing Panic and Tampering with Evidence. Investigators have ruled out any ongoing threat. (1 of 3)
— City of Westerville (@tellwesterville) February 23, 2018
After a parent of a London Middle School student reported to police that her daughter had received a vague post on social media regarding a shooting at an undetermined school, police investigated and determined that the same post was received by students in other districts around the area and was likely a part of an internet hoax, according to a safety statement on the school district’s Facebook page.
Lancaster High School was closed Friday after a student received a threatening message from an unknown caller, according to a release on the district’s website. Lancaster police are investigating and other schools in the district were expected to operate on a normal schedule, though with an increased presence of officers from the Fairfield County Sheriffs Office and Lancaster City Police Department.
Central Middle School in the Licking Heights Local Schools was closed after a voicemail message concerning a potential threat to the school. A student was arrested in connection with the threat before the school day began Thursday, superintendent Philip Wagner said in a letter to parents posted on the district’ website.
Logan-Hocking School District officials announced that classes throughout the district were canceled Friday “due to a threat made toward area schools” that police are investigating.
Toledo police say social media threats by someone identifying themselves as “B Shooter 15” prompted closings at a high school and two middle schools at the Washington Local Schools in Toledo.