BOISE, Idaho — The Boise Police Department has detained a student who they say threatened Fairmont Junior High and Capital High schools via a post on social media.
Earlier on Thursday, an email from the principal at Capital High went out to parents and staff of the two schools, stating there were reports of a threat being made to both schools.
While it's unclear if the threats were credible, the Boise School District (BSD) and Boise Police have taken the matter seriously. They are investigating the claims, and have detained the student. The parents of the student are cooperating with police, the email said.
Principal Derek Gardner also said he is thankful for the students and parents that brought the threat to their attention.
The email went on to add:
"We understand that situations like these can be unsettling and we want to assure you that we have precautions in place to ensure the safety of our school community. We would like to remind all parents and guardians to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to law enforcement or school officials. If you have any information that may pertain to this situation, please contact non-emergency dispatch at 208-377-6790."
In the e-mail Gardener stated, "this serves as a good reminder for parents to discuss with their children that any threat against the school, students or staff, even one made as a prank, will be investigated fully by law enforcement and may result in serious consequences."
Boise School District responded to the incident with another email to staff and parents. BSD notes that there are no credible threats to any of their schools at this time.
The alleged threat that came in was making the rounds on social media, which the BSD reminds parents and students that there are steps to take to limit these posts.
"Please keep in mind that re-sharing or modifying these social media threats—whether intentional or not—can lead to confusion and contribute to the spread of inaccurate information. This can hinder law enforcement efforts and create unnecessary anxiety in our community. Such actions carry significant consequences, including legal implications and school disciplinary measures. They also cause severe mental stress for individuals who are intentionally misidentified and targeted," said the school district.
BSD went on to state the following steps can help in these situations:
- Do not engage with or share the post with anyone other than the proper authorities
- Take a screenshot or record key details (username, content, etc.)
- Use the school's reporting system. For the reporting of imminent threats contact the Boise Police Department by calling 911.
For parents and students who have concerns, but feel the threat may not be imminent, they can call dispatch at 208-377-6790.
"It's also important to have ongoing conversations with your child about the serious nature of making or engaging with threats on social media. If you or your child encounters a social media threat, we ask that you report it immediately to local law enforcement," the email said.
