Norman High School Social Media Threat
UPDATE - 1:45 PM, September 12th: In the latest update from the Norman Police Department, they report that during their investigation into the social media threat made towards an area school with an individual pictured with a gun detectives found that the juvenile who made the threat lived in Mustang, Oklahoma. The Mustang Police Department was then notified and the incident and they made contact with the suspect, at which point the individual was then placed into custody. They again reiterated that the Norman Public Schools have confirmed this student was never a student in the Norman school system and the Norman Police Department confirms the threat was never made towards the Norman Public Schools. You can again find the latest full press release, along with the previous updates and the original story below.
In a statement from Mustang Public Schools, they mention that late last night/early this morning the Mustang Police Department notified them of a student from the Mustang High School has been arrested in connection with a social media threat that was posted on Snapchat almost a month ago. In the post, the suspect stated a warning message about coming to school, but no specific school or district was ever mentioned. The post that was screenshot by someone who had received the Snapchat and then later posted on Facebook was shared over 4,000 times. Upon further investigation, the weapon that was seen in the post was said to be an airsoft (pellet) rifle and was made as a joke. Mustang Police Department has found in their investigation that there was no creditable threat to any of the schools in regards to this post, and there was not a threat when the post was initially made either. The Mustang Police Department continues to investigate this situation.
In the Mustang Public School statement, they also mention how this post was “seen/shared over 4,000 times prior to it being reported. We recognize that students, families, and the entire community play a vital role in maintaining safe schools; please allow this to serve as a very important reminder to see something, say something!” That phrase, “See something, say something” is a direct reference to the national campaign from the Department of Homeland Security to raise public awareness not only about indicators of terrorism and terrorism-related crime but also to the importance of reporting suspicious activity to state and local law enforcement in a situation like this. More about “See something, say something” can be found here: https://www.dhs.gov/see-something-say-something.
Again, according to Mustang Public School administrators and the Mustang Police Department, the situation has been resolved and the threat was deemed non-credible.
UPDATE - 9:30 AM, September 12th: The Norman Police Department reports their Criminal Investigation division and another local police department identified the individual responsible for making the social media threat. The individual was contacted by police and was later placed into custody. After further investigation, it was determined this individual was not a student or member of the Norman Public School system and his threat was not directed toward Norman Public Schools.
You can find the full police release and the original story below.
INITIAL STORY - 11:00 PM - September 11, 2022: We have been made aware of a threat that has been circulating on various social media platforms towards the Norman High School in Norman, Oklahoma by an unknown teen. In the social media post made on Snapchat, the teen states “Don’t come to school tmrw” and is seen in the photo with a firearm. Police and school officials are aware of the situation.
A safety message from Norman Public Schools (NPS) was released late Sunday evening in regard to the threatening post. In this statement, they mention they have not been able to confirm if this individual is a student at any Norman Public Schools. They have reached out to the Norman Police Department which is further investigating the social media threat. In response to the threats, NPS will be enhancing security measures and increasing Norman police presence at their schools. NPS states they take all threats such as this seriously, and any person who makes a threat to the school is subject to disciplinary action and potential prosecution under the law.
They thank every student and parent who reported the threat as well as anyone who helped to gather further information in regards to this incident. If anyone has any further information in regards to this incident, they are asked to contact either a school administrator or the Norman Police Department immediately. You can also make anonymous reports by calling the Norman Crime Stoppers at 405-366-STOP or submit an anonymous tip online at www.p3tips.com/1323.
The Norman Police Department also released a statement in regards to the school threat which you can find a copy of below.
We will continue to update this story as more information is made available.
