Officers kept a visible watch at Franklin High School in West El Paso on Tuesday after a threat to the campus was investigated and ruled non-credible. District officials reported that students and staff remained safe while law enforcement swept the grounds, and extra patrols stayed on site as a precaution. Administrators said they plan to pursue disciplinary and potentially criminal consequences for anyone found to have made a false threat.
District: Threat Deemed Non-Credible
According to KFOX14/CBS4, El Paso ISD said Franklin High received a threat on Tuesday morning that officials later determined was not credible. EPISD Police, the El Paso Police Department, and other agencies responded quickly to the report. In a statement, the district said "students and staff are safe" and noted that officers would remain on campus out of an abundance of caution. The district also warned that anyone responsible for issuing false threats faces school discipline and could see criminal charges pursued to the fullest extent of the law.
Police Response And Nearby Holds
Local coverage described a sizable multi-agency response, with a brief lockdown while officers checked the school. KVIA ABC-7 reported that El Paso police arrived around 8:45 a.m. to assist district officers and that nearby campuses were placed on a “hold” protocol as a safety measure. The same report noted that a student was hit by a vehicle near the campus during the response but did not suffer serious injuries.
Video Shows Police Presence
Videos of the response quickly surfaced on social media as word of the scare spread. KFOX14 highlighted clips posted to the Instagram account therealfitfamelpaso that show officers on and around the campus. The footage captures a heavy law enforcement presence but no active threat. School officials have urged families not to repost unverified material, so online chatter does not interfere with ongoing investigations.
Broader Trend And Federal Attention
This incident is part of a larger wave of online hoax threats in the Borderland that has already drawn federal scrutiny. Last year, an FBI probe into similar posts underscored warnings that spreading unconfirmed threat rumors can complicate cases and muddy real tips, as per Hoodline. Federal officials continue to stress that people should report suspicious messages directly to investigators instead of amplifying them on social media.
Legal Risks And What Families Should Know
El Paso ISD leaders and the district police chief have repeatedly asked parents and students to avoid sharing threatening posts and to report any concerns to campus resource officers or 911. The district says it will seek prosecution when appropriate for those who make or circulate hoax threats. Guidance to families also emphasizes using official reporting channels so emergency responders are not pulled away from legitimate calls by viral but unverified posts.
