A High School in Michigan went into lockdown after a 'vague threat' which led to students being sent home.
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The Grand Blanc High School made the decision to send students home on the morning of February 19 after a threat was received by 911 mentioning the establishment. Grand Blanc district superintendent Trevor Alward sent a notice to parents explaining the situation. The school also posted
the correspondence on Facebook.Alward explains that students and staff went into lockdown as a precaution. He stresses, 'There is no verification that this threat is credible, but we are choosing to err on the side of caution.'
The letter says that authorities and administrators are investigating the site. Alward also suggests that police advised the school to send students home while they searched the buildings. The staff reportedly cleared students from the building in 'an orderly manner.'
Authorities placed multiple buildings on the campus in a 'secure mode,' including the Perry Center and Brendel Elementary. The correspondence concludes, 'We are taking necessary precautions to keep students and staff safe, as advised by law enforcement and our District's safety procedures.'
Police Confirm They Received A Bomb Threat At The Michigan School
The letter from Alward never states precisely what the threat entailed, but it's easy to draw conclusions from the response and police presence.
Per a report by WNEM, the investigation brought over 12 law enforcement agencies to the school. The outlet also explains that Police Chief Brian Lipe confirmed it was a bomb threat. Dispatchers reportedly received a 911 call around 8:30 in the morning threatening a bomb on site. The caller also allegedly threatened to 'shoot up the school.'
Police say the lockdown and procedure went smoothly, and law enforcement found nothing of concern on campus. Lipe also reflected on the communication with parents, saying it could be better. He also explained that mixed messages on multiple channels, including social media, can do more harm than good. "It might have caused more concern and grief with parents than what was necessary," Lipe said.
Police are still investigating the origin of the threat and are trying to determine if the call was made locally.
