PERRRYVILLE — Perry County School District No. 32 Superintendent Dr. Fara Jones has reported to the school community that two juveniles have been referred to the juvenile court on charges in connection with social media posts that referenced threats to commit shootings at our schools this week.
According to a news release from the school district, the investigation continues and involves Perry County School District 32’s school resource officers (SROs), the Perryville Police Department, and the Perry County Sheriff’s Office.
Both juveniles were taken into custody quickly by the appropriate authorities. Law enforcement determined that neither situation constituted a “credible” threat, meaning that neither showed planning and intention to commit a school shooting.
We want to express our gratitude to the students and adults who reported these posts to the proper authorities – without re-posting them on their own social media and spreading the rumors and fear. We are grateful to our wonderful local law enforcement agencies and officers who have worked with us all week to track down every tip. We commend our teachers and staff for their ability to adapt to this ever-evolving situation and taking every possible precaution to keep our students safe.
These social media posts and rumors have taken a toll on all of us. Our students and their parents have experienced fear that no child or family should experience. Our staff has endured incredible stress and uncertainty. Our law enforcement agencies have expended tremendous manpower investigating both posts and associated rumors, as well as providing extra patrols on our campus to help calm our fears.
There is no school for students Thursday, September 19 (Teacher Collaboration) or Friday, September 20, (East Perry Fair) and we hope the break will allow these rumors to die so we can get back to normal next week. We want our students in school, where they can learn and grow, and we want them to know they are safe here.
I again urge every parent to take this opportunity to have conversations with their children about the harm caused by sharing rumors of school violence, and the serious legal and academic consequences that students will face if they do so.
No joke, no dare, no chance to be social-media famous for a few moments, is worth possibly being charged with a felony or being kicked out of school.