Threat Against Sioux Falls Washington High School

UPDATE: According to the Sioux Falls Police Department, there was no credible threat to Washington High School.

"The student made a comment about shooting up Washington High School on Monday. There really wasn't a reason why they were doing that. There wasn't anything credible. There wasn't any way that they had plans of doing this. It was just some conversation they had," said Sioux Falls Police spokesman Sam Clemens.

"This was overheard by some other students who reported it to staff. Law enforcement was involved right away on Friday. We investigated and found out there wasn't any credible means of doing this. This conversation sprung up on social media. It turns out the information wasn't anything new."

If your kids go to Washington High School in Sioux Falls, chances are you received some concerning news on Sunday about Monday's school day.

On Sunday Parents of Sioux Falls Washington High School were sent an automated call and the following email from high school officials.

Good morning Washington High School families. In the last 24 hours, Sioux Falls Police and school district officials have been working together to investigate a threat against Washington which was shared on social media this weekend. Many individuals did exactly the right thing when they discovered this threat and called the police and school administration. The Sioux Falls Police Department worked quickly in conjunction with the Sioux Falls School District to identify the student who made the posting and have confirmed that student solely posted the comments. The school day will begin as normal and additional officers will be present at the school as an added precaution today for the benefit of those that may hear any additional rumors. The safety of our students and staff are our highest priority, which is why we take threats against schools very seriously. We will continue to work with police to ensure the safety of everyone at Washington High School and we thank you with partnering with us in this constant effort. This situation is a reminder of the phrase “See Something, Say Something” - report anything that appears suspicious. Thank you.

According to the Sioux Falls Police Department the student responsible for the social media threat has been identified and it is believed that there is no longer a valid threat.

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