Investigators determined Monday that a shooting threat circulating online originally believed to be directed at Douglas High School was not aimed at the Wyoming institution.
Douglas High principal Ryan Mackey told students, parents and community members late Monday that after a thorough investigation, it was determined that a threat of a school shooting that circulated on social media over the weekend and was reported by school students and administrators was not actually aimed at the Wyoming high school.
“Instead, the threat involved out-of-state institutions,” Mackey said. “Nevertheless, Superintendent Dr. Paige Fenton Hughes would like to express her thanks to the students and parents who reported the troubling social media post so it could be immediately addressed.”
Mackey said that it was impossible to discern the exact nature of the threat from the initial post, so out of an abundance of caution, the high school went virtual on Monday.
In-person classes will resume Tuesday.
Douglas Police Chief Todd Byerly said he was very satisfied with the tandem response of the department and the district.
According to Byerly, “things went about as well as they could have” under the circumstances.
There was no threat made to other school buildings in the district, therefore the rest of Converse County’s schools were open for in-person classes Monday.
“Every precaution will be taken to ensure student and staff safety at those buildings,” school officials said earlier Monday. “Law enforcement will be present at all sites in the morning and throughout the day on Monday.”
