After violent threat, Skyline High School staff to be extra vigilant

Skyline High School in Sammamish is open Friday, following a closure Thursday as authorities investigated a written threat to shoot students.

Authorities have not yet identified the origin of the threat. In an email to parents, Skyline said postings of almost an exact nature, including those that target neighboring districts, have been circulating on the same online forum for several years with no resulting action on the threat.

Police said the similar threats included one against a Lynnwood school last spring.

The threat first appeared on social media Wednesday and complained about students at school who, “use their wealth and social status to act superior to others.”

The author stated that jocks would be targeted first because they are the “biggest offender.” He goes on to write that he’ll kill until he runs out of ammunition or is killed by police.

A photo of a gun was attached to the threat. Police determined that the image was a stock photo that could easily be searched for on the Internet.

In a letter sent to parents of Skyline students, the school said they felt confident in reopening the school. “Although we can never guarantee with 100 percent certainty that our school will be safe,” the note said.

Wednesday night, the Issaquah School District notified students and parents of Thursday’s closure, deciding to act out of an abundance of caution.

On Friday, the school will run on a “Wednesday” schedule, with classes starting at 9:55 a.m. Skyline said staff will be extra vigilant regarding any unusual circumstances.

Nearby school Eastside Catholic decided to cancel classes Friday. They did not receive a threat, but thought it would be a good time to conduct a safety assessment.