DALLAS — Multiple North Texas school districts and law enforcement agencies have had the unfortunate task of investigating threats of violence to schools over the first few weeks of class.
Last week, 17-year-old David Washington, a senior at Dallas ISD, was shot and killed during a fight with a large crowd outside of a Love's Convenience store following a football game between Duncanville and South Oak Cliff.
On Tuesday, Duncanville, Cedar Hill and DeSoto ISD decided to postpone multiple athletic events due to a concerning social media post circulating Monday night. Out of precaution, Duncanville ISD and Dallas ISD have increased police presence on their campuses.
"We are committed to responding swiftly to any threats to safeguard our students and staff," Duncanville High School said in a statement Monday. "Threats of violence, whether made online or in person, are taken very seriously and can have significant consequences as outlined in the Student Code of Conduct and the law."
On Wednesday, Dallas ISD and Fort Worth ISD released statements surrounding social media posts with "unconfirmed threats against various campuses."
Both school districts emphasized the consequences that come with threats like this and urged parents to remind their students about responsible social media use.
WFAA reached out to law enforcement agencies across North Texas to learn how many threats have been investigated. And so far, the list is extensive.
School districts and law enforcement agencies that have investigated threats
- Arlington ISD
- An 18-year-old, who is not a student at Arlington High School, was arrested and charged with terroristic threat after making threatening posts on social media. While he told police it was a prank, he was booked in the Arlington City Jail on the felony. Additionally, a student at Gunn Junior High was charged with terroristic threat and taken to Tarrant County Juvenile Detention Center after making verbal threats. Lastly, a student at Lamar High School was charged with terroristic threat and taken to the Juvenile Detention Center after sending threatening messages toward a staff member.
- Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD
- Announced Wednesday that it is investigating threats made on social media.
- Carrollton PD:
- Investigated six school threats. None were found to be credible but one 12-year-old student was charged with threaten/exhibit/use firearm at school.
- Duncanville ISD
- Brought in additional police presence after seeing a concerning increase in threats on social media.
- Dallas ISD
- Brought in additional police presence after unconfirmed threats were made against various campuses.
- Ennis ISD
- Investigated a threat a student received on social media. The person responsible for the threat was arrested in Edinburg, Texas.
- Fort Worth ISD
- Announced Wednesday it was investigating social media posts with unconfirmed threats toward numerous campuses. Fort Worth PD said it arrested a Fort Worth ISD student involved with one of the dozen threats the department has investigated.
- Frisco ISD
- Investigated several vague threats, but none were found to be credible.
- Hunt ISD
- A student was arrested by Frisco PD for making threats against Hunt Middle School on social media. The student was arrested and charged with terroristic threat.
- Joshua ISD
- Investigated a social media post stating that a student brought a weapon to Joshua High School. However, JISD police officers determined that it was not true.
- Lewisville PD/ISD
- The Lewisville Police Department arrested four kids in connection with multiple online school threats against Huffines Middle School.
- Mesquite ISD
- Mesquite Police Department investigated several reports of potential threats to Mesquite ISD schools and filed 12 cases against individuals allegedly involved.
- Plano ISD
- Investigated three threats posted on social media. No arrests were made.
- Royse City PD/ISD
- Arrested and charged a 15-year-old with a terroristic threat after he posted online that he would bring a bomb to a student group meeting after school. Additionally, a 16-year-old was detained and charged with terroristic threat after he yelled that he had a gun and a bomb while walking to a pep rally.
- Waxahachie ISD
- Investigated two different pictures containing threats on social media. No arrests have been made, but the school district has increased police presence at all campuses.
- Wylie PD/ISD
- Arrested and charged a 16-year-old Wylie East student Thursday for terroristic threat after making threats to shoot up the school. Police said the student had been suspended Thursday earlier in the day for making similar threats.
- White Settlement PD/ISD
- Investigated two calls of reported gunshots near schools, but did not find any evidence of a shooting.
Many of these school districts have released statements saying the safety of students and faculty is the utmost priority and they, along with local law enforcement agencies, will be sure to investigate every threat, credible or not, to the fullest extent and enforce significant consequences outlined in the law to those responsible.