Threats involving Kent high schools found to be a hoax

Classes were in session as scheduled in the Kent School District on Tuesday after social media threats involving Kent-Meridian and Kentridge high schools were deemed not credible.

Kent Police and Kent School District officials investigated postings made to Facebook and Twitter on Monday evening, which indicated that a student was planning a school shooting sometime this week, school district spokesman Chris Loftis said Tuesday morning.

“A student, trying to get another student in trouble, created an account and posted the threats in the other student’s name, thinking it would get the other student in trouble,” Loftis said.

The school district made two robocalls – one around 10:30 p.m. Monday and a second at about 6:30 a.m. Tuesday – informing families the threats were a hoax and that classes and activities would be on regular schedule Tuesday.

Although the timing of the late night and early morning calls was not ideal, Loftis said, it was important to notify parents immediately.

“We felt like it was worth the discomfort of a few rather than frightening thousands,” he said.

The students involved were not at school on Tuesday, Loftis said, and district officials would decide what disciplinary action could be taken.

“Our internal sanctions that we would do to a child are secondary to legal ramifications,” he said.

The district takes any threats seriously, Loftis said.

“That is just the reality of the world we live in, that there are times we have to make these tough calls,” he said. “We have to do what we have to do to keep kids safe.”