Two Harrison County school threats reported, students not in danger

CLARKSBURG, W.Va. — Two separate threats made via various social media sites suggested possible school shootings in Harrison County, but Director of Safety and Discipline Ken Winkie said students and staff are not in danger.

“If there was precaution to be had, we would’ve put something on our website, and we would’ve notified parents via text messaging,” Winkie said.

Authorities are investigating the threats that referenced Robert C. Byrd High School and Salem Elementary School.

Winkie said the threat at RCB came to the attention of Harrison County School officials Thursday afternoon. The threat, which began on social media, then quickly circulated through texts and other verbal communication.

“It was a conflict out of school that then led into the school,” Winkie said.

“The investigation was ran by the administration of the school in conjunction with the PRO assigned to that school,” he said. “It was dealt with on the school level, and then the police followed through on a law enforcement end in addition to what we could do on a school level, and it was addressed by early evening (Thursday).”

The second threat, at Salem Elementary School, was learned early Friday morning.

“The principal of the school contacted me and said that somebody gave them a photo of some type of threat that there would be a shooting (Friday) from a social media site,” Winkie said.

West Virginia State Police were then called to respond to the school and ascertain the student who made that post.

Winkie said “it’s not normal” for someone to find such a threat and not report it to the school or to law enforcement.

“Just merely posting things on a social media site. like writing on the walls, is not productive,” he said. “It’s counterproductive, and it makes you want to scratch your head as to why somebody would post something like that without notifying the police.”

Multiple school threats have been made throughout the Mountain State since the Feb. 14 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, that claimed the lives of 17 students.

While Winkie said it’s concerning for not just the school systems but for the general public, he feels confident that Harrison County has properly responded to such threats to keep students and faculty safe.

“It’s concerning for every educator out there, for every administrator and for every student. It causes a disruption, and we need to all work together in the county that we’re in to work through these,” he said. “Yesterday was an excellent example how that was worked through not just on the school side but also the law enforcement side.”





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