A social media post threatening the School for Creative and Performing Arts (SCPA) in Over-the-Rhine, Cincinnati, drew police investigation this past Thursday. A statement from Cincinnati Public Schools (CPS) to WLWT conveyed that no current danger existed to students and that the district's safety protocols were immediately enacted once the threat was identified.
The investigation began after a message surfaced online threatening to "shoot up" the institution. Authorities were quick to work alongside CPS to locate and question the individual responsible—a student. The student's cooperation, as well as that of his family, was noted in the CPS's message. However, there were no arrests, explained Lt. Jonathan Cunningham, a police spokesperson, citing a lack of immediate threat to the school, according to FOX19.
Disturbingly, the threatening post found on Snapchat late Thursday night revealed explicit intentions with the wording, "Im gonna shoot up scpa tomorrow be ready scpa students," as reported by WCPO. A correction was later issued by WCPO, clarifying that no student was in custody, contradicting earlier reports.
Despite assurances of safety, concern surged among the school community. One SCPA parent expressed her daughter's reluctance to attend classes after the threat. The mother shared in a WCPO interview, "No one should have to be worried about this while getting an education." She went on to recount a poignant observation from her child regarding the normalcy of school shooting drills in contemporary education, striking a chord on the psychological toll such threats impose on young students and their families.
In response to such incidents, Dr. Kenneth Trump, president of National School Safety and Security Services, emphasized the need for schools to have robust protocols, including threat assessment teams and crisis communication plans. As cited in the WCPO report, Trump highlighted the rise in school threats, marking a troubling trend over the past four decades. Clear communication in these instances becomes critical in maintaining trust within the school community and mitigating additional stress and uncertainty.
Classes continued as scheduled on Friday with heightened security measures at SCPA, including the presence of school resource officers. CPS reiterated its stance on threat seriousness and assured all protocols were followed, aligning with the Student Code of Conduct and relevant laws. The district encourages anyone with information on potential safety concerns to promptly contact authorities, espousing the principle: "If you see something, say something." according to FOX19.
