INDIANAPOLIS – Schools across the state of Indiana are seeing an increase in threats of violence on social media.
There was an additional police presence at Center Grove Community Schools on Monday morning following threats made on Thursday.
“We are showing more presence. Your children in the schools around here are safer than ever before,” said Major Andy Fish of the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office.
Fisher said he, along with the Bargersville and Center Grove police departments, investigated a threat made against students on TikTok on Thursday night.
“We are dealing with situations or complaints today about posts that were made on Thursday that people are only now seeing on social media because they were sent to so many people,” Fisher said.
Such threats are occurring across the state. On Monday, Lafayette police said they arrested a 14-year-old for threatening a high school and a middle school in the area. Last week, Indiana State Police investigated three separate threats at Indianapolis schools. Two investigations led to the arrest of a 12-year-old and a 15-year-old. The third investigation came up empty.
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“That’s unfortunately a sad reality of the world we live in right now. I would say things go in cycles,” said Herbert Stapleton, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Indianapolis field office.
Herbert says these threats have increased across the state and country in recent weeks.
“I don’t want to refrain from placing blame on a particular medium or maybe even calling it a trend, but we are definitely seeing a lot of this threat activity on social media applications,” Herbert said.
On Friday, threats were made against IPS at Broad Ripple Middle School.
A statement from the school district said: “On September 13, Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS) was made aware of a social media threat at Broad Ripple Middle School that was circulating among the school’s students, as well as a rumor that there was an active shooter in the building.” Neither the threat nor the rumor were true.
IPS Police and IMPD immediately investigated and found both not credible.
Students and staff remained safe in the building.
Unfortunately, there is a disturbing trend of warnings about possible school shootings on social media across Indiana and across the country. These online and social media messages have been reported in districts in Indiana, Virginia, Tennessee, Minnesota, Illinois, and many more.
“A hasty reaction out of fear and asking more questions,” says Cassandra Kruse, an IPS mother.
All law enforcement agencies are urging people to report threats if they become aware of them and to stop sending threats online if they receive them. They are also warning people not to make such threats.
“If you’re thinking about posting a threat online, people should think twice. That’s a crime. Not only is it wrong, but it’s a crime and you could face very serious consequences,” Herbert said.
