CAMDENTON, Mo. — A threatening post on social media had some Camdenton School District parents and students alarmed this week. Police say there was no specific date given, but they are investigating the post that had some people concerned a student was planning a school shooting on Wednesday, March 8.

On Tuesday, March 7, police say school officials had looked into an incident where students were discussing the Columbine school shooting and “had made some other statements.” According to police, that situation was addressed promptly and administrators were unable to confirm any specific threat but did counsel with the students.

Police say they did not hear about the social media post until Tuesday night. They questioned the student who made the post, who allegedly said he had pulled the photo off the Internet and that his post had been made over a month ago.

There was no specific threat for March 8, according to police, but they called the incident “very concerning” and said it is still being investigated.

Extra officers were posted on campus on March 8, as a precautionary measure.

Camdenton Police Chief Laura Wright urged parents to discuss the following with their children:

School Safety: Help them to understand that any threatening comments will be taken seriously and could result in criminal charges that can impact them for their entire lives

Social Media: Remind them to think before they post. An off-the-cuff comment even meant as a joke could be taken seriously and viewed as a true threat. Chief Wright urges parents to monitor their children’s social media so they can be aware of any concerning posts.

Gun Safety: Air soft pistols and paint ball guns can be fun, but they can also look very real. A fake gun can be perceived as a real threat when pointed at someone, and Chief Wright noted there have been incidents where people who pointed a fake gun at someone have been killed. “Educating our youth about gun safety is the key to avoiding such a tragedy in our community,” she said.

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