Boy accused of using Aberdeen HS TikTok to post shooting threats
Oct 3, 2022, 4:05 PM | Updated: Oct 4, 2022, 11:55 am
(Photo courtesy Joe Mabel/Wikipedia Commons)
(Photo courtesy Joe Mabel/Wikipedia Commons)
Classes are set to resume in Aberdeen after they were canceled Monday because threats were posted to one of the high school’s social media accounts.
In an announcement posted to Facebook, the school district said a boy from Gray’s Harbor has been taken into custody. The boy had alledgedly used the Aberdeen High School’s TikTok account to post threatening messages on Sunday.
Aberdeen School District cancels classes Monday after threats online
The superintendent declined to answer how the student was able to get access to the account.
‘I’m bringing a gun to school’
According to the district, one of the messages stated, “I’m bringing a gun to school on Monday.” Another allegedly warned students not to come to class.
Every school in the district canceled classes Monday as a result. All after-school activities, including sports, were brought to a halt.
In neighboring Hoquiam, classes remained in session but the district brought officers onto the campus for security.
Officers with the Aberdeen Police Department worked with the district and employees of the social media platform to track down who had made the posts from the school’s account.
Lt. John Snodgrass with Aberdeen Police Department told KIRO Newsradio no weapons were found when officers found the boy. Authorities have not uncovered any evidence he had planned to carry through with the threats.
Threats were taken seriously
“Posting threatening statements is not acceptable and it’s against the law,” Superintendent Jeffrey Thake said in a message on the Aberdeen school district’s website. “The safety of our students and staff is our highest priority. We take threats seriously and I am grateful to the Aberdeen Police Department for launching an investigation right away and working with us to identify the suspect.”
Thake said students who might be anxious about the threats of an attack should speak to a counselor about the issue. “We… are concerned about the mental well-being of our students and staff,” Thake said.
Suspect not named; Is not a student at any of Aberdeen’s schools
The district did not name the juvenile, but confirmed he is not a student at any of its schools.
It is unclear how he could have accessed the school’s TikTok account, and the district has not commented on it.
KIRO Newsradio has reached out to ASD for more information.
Aberdeen schools are set to resume classes Tuesday morning, but the investigation is ongoing.
Anyone with information about the threats is asked to call the Aberdeen Police Department non-emergency line at (360) 533-8765.
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