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Social Media Threats Place City Schools, Police On Alert Tuesday | News, Sports, Jobs

Social Media Threats Place City Schools, Police On Alert Tuesday | News, Sports, Jobs

For the second time in less than a week, Jamestown Public Schools officials are trying to reassure parents and students that threats circulating on social media are not credible.

Facebook posts began showing up from parents of Jamestown High School students Tuesday night regarding a rumor that someone was planning to pull a fire alarm, which would then lead to a school shooting. Jamestown police were made aware of the threat, and district officials responded on the district’s Facebook page late Tuesday night.

“This evening, JPS was made aware of rumors circulating among students at Jamestown High School concerning threats to school safety. JPD and the FBI are currently investigating and have no reason to believe that these rumors are credible,” the district said. “Out of an abundance of caution, there will be an increased police presence at our schools tomorrow as we continue to proactively communicate and monitor this situation with JPD, who has been an essential partner in this process.”

The Dunkirk and Fredonia school districts also investigate similar threats, while television station WGRZ in Buffalo reported Monday there have been a rash of threats involving Erie and Niagara county school districts, including Clarence, Medina, Niagara Wheatfield and Newfane. Newfane planned enhanced security measures Monday in coordination with the Niagara County Sheriff’s Department while Niagara Wheatfield went into a lockdown Monday morning. Medina police increased patrols around schools there on Monday as well.

Eight students in California have been arrested as of Tuesday for allegedly participating in a series of school threats that circulated through social media platforms over the past week.

District officials were among the schools across the country dealing with a Snapchat message last week that made threats toward an unnamed school. The rumor was first circulated at Persell Middle School. After an investigation, the Jamestown Police Department determined there is no credible threat to Persell or any Jamestown schools.

There were reports of Snapchat threats toward schools reported around the country, according to published reports, in the wake of last week’s school shooting in Apalachee High School in Winder, Ga. Several have been charged.

“We will continue to take all notifications and information seriously, and will follow up with all available resources,” Jamestown Public Schools officials said on Tuesday night. “JPS will continue to communicate directly and transparently in the case of any situations we hear that may affect our schools.”