Social Media Threats Prompt Increased Police Presence In Schools

GUILFORD, CT —A social media threat that was believed to be aimed at Guilford High School led to an increased police presence at all Guilford schools.

While most threats have been deemed not credible, Guilford police and schools are taking the threats of possible school violence seen on social media, including TikTok and Snapchat, seriously.

In a message to families, Guilford schools Superintendent Dr. Paul Freeman wrote that once school officials saw a post that "leveled a threat against GHS," police began investigating.

"Having looked into it, we have determined that this post is circulating in communities across the country in which their high schools could be identified as GHS. Media is reporting that the post may have originated in relation to Granger High School in Utah, or to a school in California or Colorado," he noted.

The threat was found not to be credible and schools opened as usual Friday, there's nonetheless an increased police presence at all schools, including both uniformed and plain clothes officers as well as marked and unmarked cars.

"We understand that this is still upsetting and unsettling news for students and their families," Freeman wrote.

He added that while the district understood that some might wish to keep kids home, there was no remote learning set up, but there also would be "no adverse consequences, academic or athletic," for kids staying home.