Fake Post About Kid Shot At East High In Cheyenne Sparks Fear, Frustration

A fake social media post claiming a student had been shot at East High School in Cheyenne triggered local parents into a frenzy of fear and worry Thursday afternoon.

There was a lockdown at East High on Thursday afternoon after a school resource officer got a tip from a student that another student “was carrying a firearm,” Cheyenne Police Department spokesperson Alexandra Farkas told Cowboy State Daily.

The officer quickly determined there was no firearm and that the incident was not more than a “verbal disturbance” near the school, she said.

In the meantime, the school at 28900 E. Pershing Blvd. was put on lockdown for a short time “out of an abundance of caution,” Farkas said.

Fake News

The bogus post reportedly originated on X (formerly Twitter) from an account called Mrs. Dizadare and appears to have been deleted — but not before some East High parents screenshot it and shared it on social media.

There are several other posts to that account made Thursday all of a religious nature, the top one saying, “I am covered in the blood of Jesus.”

The deleted post proclaimed in all capital letters: “CHILD SHOT IN THE PARKING LOT OF EAST HIGH SCHOOL, CHEYENNE WYOMING …”

Spreading that kind of incendiary bogus news is frustrating, Farkas said, adding that it makes keeping the public informed with correct information more difficult.

The “child shot” post “cased a lot of unnecessary fear and panic today with students,” she said. “There was a lot of misinformation that was spread on social media today.”

The bottom line, she said, is police responded to a report a student had a gun, appropriate action was taken and it was determined the report was false.

“There was no threat to the school, but they did go around and secure the location,” as per policy, she said.

At The School

Cheyenne police officers and a Laramie County Sheriff’s Office K-9 deputy remained at the school after students were dismissed for the day.

At one point, they used a K-9 — Blair — to search a Chevy Tahoe in the parking lot, its windows covered in upbeat school spirit messages.

At one point, Blair seemed to indicate on the passenger side of the vehicle, but no information about what the dog may have detected in the Tahoe was available by press time.

The officers were friendly and upbeat, chatting with some students who lingered before leaving for the day, but there was no crime-scene marked at or around the East High campus.

A Lesson

Police and school administrators will always take reports of weapons or potential violence seriously, Farkas said.

The best way to have the most accurate information during an event is the Cheyenne Police Department Facebook page, she said.

While people may get frustrated if there aren’t a lot of details available immediately, all that can be released will be, she said.

As parents were calling the CPD to find out what was happening, Farkas said the CPD “did our best to release the best information on our Facebook page and debunk some of the misinformation out there.”

Contact Greg Johnson at greg@cowboystatedaily.com

Greg Johnson can be reached at greg@cowboystatedaily.com.