Extra police on duty, some students staying home over Auburn Riverside High School shooting threat
Oct 30, 2014, 5:57 AM | Updated: 11:19 am
An unsubstantiated shooting threat at Auburn Riverside High School has prompted the school to add additional police officers, while some parents are keeping their kids at home Thursday. (Auburn Riverside High School)
(Auburn Riverside High School)
Some parents are keeping their kids at home and extra police officers will be on duty Thursday at Auburn Riverside High School because of a shooting threat written on a bathroom wall.
The threat reads, “I’ll shoot the school up 10-30-14,” says Commander Steve Stocker with the Auburn Police Department.
The threat was discovered by a student several weeks ago, who reported it to administrators last Monday at the urging of his parents, says principal David Halford.
Police and school officials investigated and found no indications it was a credible threat, but aren’t taking any chances, Halford says.
“We in the Auburn School District take safety seriously, we want our students and staff to always feel safe,” Halford says.
The school has taken a number of steps, including stationing an extra Auburn police officer on campus throughout the week and bringing in additional officers Thursday.
The school has also been on modified lock down all week, with all exterior doors, except the front, locked and classroom doors are being kept locked. Students are prevented from leaving the classroom during class hours.
“That helps us keep the hallways safe and knowing who’s in the hallways,” Halford says.
He has sent regular communications home to families keeping them informed of the threat and the steps the school is taking.
Some parents have told him they will be keeping their students home from school Thursday as a precaution.
While his own son attends the school and will be in class Thursday, Halford says he understands concerns. He supports families’ decision to do what they feel best, especially in light of last week’s shooting and Marysville-Pilchuck High School and subsequent threats at other schools.
“If a student doesn’t feel safe, I would highly suggest they stay home with their parents, talk this through, and hopefully this safe feeling will come back to them.”
KIRO Radio Editor Jillian Raftery contributed to this report.
