Gun photo on gaming site locks down Syracuse High School

SYRACUSE – The Syracuse High School was in lockdown Wednesday morning as the Federal Bureau of Investigations and local officials investigated a possible threat. The FBI was alerted to a post on an international gaming site that depicted a photograph of a gun and the words “to school tomorrow.” The FBI tracked the internet provider address to Syracuse and agents were joined by the Otoe County Sheriff’s Office in making contact with a juvenile in Syracuse. Chief Deputy Mike Holland said the intention of the post is being investigation, but there was no attempt by the student to bring a gun to the school. Holland said  a lock-down drill has already been scheduled and announced at the school days earlier. The school was notified about the post at 8:30 a.m. today and the lock down was lifted around 10:30. Official release from the school: At approximately 8:30 a.m. on September 12, 2018, SDA school officials were contacted by the Otoe County Sheriff’s Office (OCSO) regarding a threat that was traced by the FBI to a Syracuse, NE IP address.  OCSO Deputies were immediately dispatched to all school buildings in the SDA district as a precaution.  At approximately 9:30 a.m., all SDA students and staff were placed in a “No Movement” designation as part of the district’s emergency procedure policy.  The FBI and OCSO, through their investigation, identified an SDA student as a person of interest regarding the threat.  That student was immediately located and detained by law enforcement as the investigation continued.  The student disclosed to school and law enforcement officials that he posted a threatening statement related to the school in an on-line gaming chat room as a joke.  At no time during the investigation were any weapons located, or any students and staff specifically targeted.  When the investigation concluded, the law enforcement officials released the student to their parent.    Student and staff safety is the top priority in the SDA school district.  School officials and law enforcement will continue to investigate every reported threat to the schools.  As a precaution, OCSO Deputies will be present on school campuses for the remainder of the day on September 12, 2018.  Please continue to report suspicious activity to school officials or law enforcement. Thank you.
Share: