RAYTOWN, Mo. — School districts in Michigan, Florida, Alabama, Arizona, and two schools here in the metro, had extra police presence after a threatening social media post circulated.
The Raytown School District and Ruskin High School were among the schools that took extra safety precautions. The post says, “Rhs shootout, don’t come to school on Monday, January 25.”
The social media message says anyone who walks into the building is a dead man walking.
Raytown High School student Kathleen Aguilera said she was so scared she called her mother.
“She said, ‘stay in school, Cat, it’s probably not going to happen.’ I said, ‘fine, mom, but if I get shot it’s going to be on your conscience,'” said Aguilera.
Mike Coppoc said he dropped his son off to Raytown High School and noticed the extra police presence, but didn’t think they were on hand to mitigate a threat.
“For student safety, as buses arrive, students were held on buses. Administrators escorted students into class and we remained in first hour while we worked with police to determine the credibility of the threat,” said Raytown Schools Superintendent Dr. Allan Markley.
Students say by second hour, the high school was back to normal. Administrators at Ruskin High School say they received the same threat, but deemed it not credible and school activities continued as usual.
The Raytown Police Department says investigators are trying to find the computer IP address the threat was sent from so charges can be filed.