In response to a series of unverified reports indicating potential gun presence on campus, Gresham High School entered a 'secure' status yesterday. Although these claims have not been substantiated, the decision to secure the school resulted in the perimeter doors being locked, preventing any entry or exit.
The decision, as reported by KGW, comes in response to rumors that have been weaving through the community over the past week, causing enough disturbance for the Gresham-Barlow School District to act, keeping classes running while halting any traffic through the school's entry points. The district has asked the public to refrain from attempting to access the school at this time.
On-site, the Gresham Police Department worked to peel back the layers of the situation, investigating the ominous rumors, none of which have been substantiated at the time of their inquiry. Details gathered and shared with KATU News, through a letter from the district, highlighted additional monitors, and administrators deployed to the school to provide supervision and support through this period of heightened vigilance. The letter to the families found its way into the hands of KATU News courtesy of a concerned parent.
Adding to this, Gresham Police Department Detective Adam Wright offered context in, a conversation with FOX 12, describing the climate of online threats as becoming evermore a common aspect of our digital epoch. “This cycle of recirculated online threats and rumors is a phenomenon that has become increasingly common in the social media age,” Wright said. Schools often find themselves caught in the web of additional threats after an inciting incident, as the rumor mill, churns and molds the narrative through each iteration. This emphasizes the critical need for accurate information channels, which is why the police encourage reliance on direct communications from the Gresham-Barlow School District.