In the second possible threat received by an Omaha school, Omaha Police were at Millard South on Tuesday afternoon just before the end of the school day looking into a threat reportedly received via text.
It was determined to be unsubstantiated threat, police said.
Omaha police say a threat at Millard South came in via text message, but was determined to not be credible. Law enforcement still present at school @3NewsNowOmaha pic.twitter.com/NMPuzkznsY
— Megan Stewart (@MstewartKMTV) February 20, 2018
Just spoke with a freshman at the school who says fears are definitely heightened after the Florida school shooting and students are still constantly talking about it. Her mom said it was okay to speak with us. @3NewsNowOmaha
— Megan Stewart (@MstewartKMTV) February 20, 2018
A district spokesperson says a parent called the school and police today about a threat her children got last week from someone who doesn’t go to Millard South about a fight after school. Out of “an abundance of caution” large # of officers responded. @3NewsNowOmaha
— Megan Stewart (@MstewartKMTV) February 20, 2018
OPD later released a statement:
The Omaha Police Department has been notified about a threat involving Millard South High School. At this time, the threat is unsubstantiated, but in an abundance of caution, OPD has sent multiple officers to the school.
Please follow OPD as your source of additional information regarding this situation.
The situation at Millard South was the second instance of such precautions being taken by the school district.
Earlier on Tuesday, according to a an email sent by the principal of Omaha Northwest High Magnet School, the administration there had been made aware of a threat made on social media.
A letter sent to parents stated that the threat was vague and did not specifically call out the school, but Omaha Police were immediately contacted. The threat reportedly stated "to those that go to Northwest, watch out."
Threats about Northwest have happened in the past because it's a very common name, OPS spokeswoman Monique Farmer said.
The letter from Principal Thomas Lee reads:
Good Afternoon Northwest High Magnet School Parents:
The administration at Northwest High Magnet School was made aware of a social media threat this morning. It is important for parents to know that the threat was vague and did not specifically call out Omaha Northwest. However, in the interest of student and staff safety, the Omaha Police Department was immediately contacted.
We are working with our District Safety Office, our on-site security team and the Omaha Police Department to ensure the safety of our school environment.
This message is being shared to ensure open communication with our families. Please be assured that the safety of students and staff is our top priority. School will continue as normal today. We appreciate your continued help in guiding our students in the use of good judgment in their actions for their safety and the safety of others.
If you have any questions, please call the school at (402) 557-3500.
Thank you for your continued support of Northwest High Magnet and Omaha Public Schools.
"Everyone was talking about it — like lots of people were kind of scared," said David Hernandez, a junior at Northwest. "Some people were laughing it off, like I said, but I don’t know who it really was, so..."
Omaha Public Schools sent an overview of crisis plans and procedures to prevent a school shooting to all parents and staff in the wake of the Florida shooting.
“Douglas County Sheriff’s Department alerted us last week that just for precautionary purposes, they were gong to heighten their patrols around the schools that are within the vicinity they cover for OPS and obviously for other districts in the Metro,” Farmer said.
School officials encourage students to come forward — tell teachers or administrators — if they ever notice odd behavior by other students, or if anything surfaces on social media that causes alarm.
