There was an increased police presence Monday at a middle school in Waltham, Massachusetts, following online threats of a potential school shooting.
Waltham Public Schools Superintendent Marisa Mendonsa confirmed Sunday that administrators were made aware of multiple threats that were made via Snapchat regarding a potential shooting at McDevitt Middle School.
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Police in Waltham said later Monday they had identified a student as the source of the threats, which they determined not to be credible, finding no evidence of a shooting being planned.
In her email, the superintendent also referenced a “security concern” at the school on Friday, saying it was unclear if the two were connected. Mendonsa did not elaborate on what that security concern was.
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The superintendent added that police are also working very closely with the social media platform to identify the person behind these alarming messages.
"We cannot currently comment further on the investigation itself at this time," police said in a press release Monday.
There was an increased police presence Monday in response to the Snapchat threat, with the school assigning a police officer “to each floor and to every corner of the building,” the superintendent said.
"We are implementing these measures to ensure that everyone feels secure and that our school environment remains safe," Mendonsa wrote.
The school also did not allow backpacks on campus. Any that are brought to school were to be searched in the presence of police.
There will also be an increased police presence at all other schools in town, including Waltham High School. This will continue throughout the week, police said. In addition to added patrols, there will be school resource officers present at every school all day.
Waltham police say they are aware that worry and concern is spreading about this threat, especially between students on social media. Rumors have also begun to circulate regarding shootings at other locations, as well, police said, noting that they have not received further direct threats at this time.
The superintendent said school counselors would be available to provide support to students and staff who need it.
Any suspicious activity or concerns should be reported immediately to the Waltham Police Department at 781-314-3600.
Other Massachusetts school communities are also on edge.
In Hanover, police are looking into social media messages shared by students that expressed concern about a safety threat, which was also later deemed not to be credible.
Last week in Methuen, two teenagers were arrested after allegedly making a bomb threat.
