An anonymous tip warning of violence at Cranston High School West has triggered a police investigation and a beefed-up patrol presence at the school on Thursday, with officers saying they still can't confirm whether the threat is real. The tip came in through the police department's Tip411 portal Wednesday evening, naming Thursday as the day of the threatened violence.
Police Say Credibility Remains Unknown
According to WPRI, Cranston police received the anonymous tip threatening violence at Cranston High School West on Thursday, and the submission came through the department's Tip411 portal the evening before. Police said plainly that “the credibility of the threat cannot be determined at this time,” leaving families and staff in limbo as the school day unfolded. No arrests or charges had been announced in connection with the threat as of Thursday, per WJAR.
Cranston Police Col. Michael Winquist said extra patrols would be stationed at the high school throughout the day, WPRI reported. An NBC 10 News crew observed a number of students leaving the school that morning, and the increased police presence was visible at the campus as the investigation continued.
Principal Notifies Families, Promises Updates
WJAR reported that the principal said the school notified parents, students and faculty about the threat. WPRI reported that Principal John Fontaine emailed families about the threat and said the school prioritizes a safe and secure learning environment for its students and staff. He also promised to provide updates on the investigation as it unfolds, though no further details on the threat's exact wording or target have been released.
At least one unnamed parent told WJAR they were worried for their child because police had not yet determined whether the threat was credible — a concern amid the uncertainty surrounding the investigation Thursday.
A Familiar Scare at the Same School
This isn't the first time Cranston High School West has found itself at the center of a threat investigation. In January 2023, police increased their presence at the school while investigating a threat made on social media, according to Turn to 10. That case ended with the arrest of an 11-year-old juvenile, whom police determined had no means to carry out the threat and therefore deemed it not credible.
Other Rhode Island schools have faced similar scares in recent months. West Warwick High School was expected to increase police presence after a student reported a threatening message written in a bathroom, the same outlet reported. And in Tiverton, police investigated a comment overheard by a student that could have been interpreted as a bomb threat, though officers ultimately said it was not actually a threat, according to a report from Tiverton, RI Patch.
Under Rhode Island law, every student, staff member, teacher and administrator has a right to attend or work at a school that is safe and secure, free from the threat of violence, according to the Rhode Island General Assembly's statutes on education. As Cranston police continue sorting out the credibility of this week's tip, the department has not said when the investigation might conclude.
