Argo Postpones Graduation After Second Threat Surfaces

SUMMIT, IL — Argo Community High School has canceled graduation exercises a day after a student allegedly made threats against the school. Seniors from the Summit high school were scheduled to graduate on Tuesday. School officials said the ceremony was being canceled “due to extenuating circumstances of the past 48 hours.”

Dist. 217 Superintendent Jill Kingsfield told ABC 7 Chicago that Summit police confirmed that a juvenile from Joliet was identified as the person associated with Tuesday's threats. The juvenile was taken into custody and charges are pending.

Summit police arrested another juvenile suspect Monday after a social media post surfaced Sunday threatening violence against “every class” in the school. The high school curtailed its schedule, and police maintained a heightened presence throughout the day Monday.

Although no specific threat was mentioned, Argo high school went into soft lockdown again on Tuesday, when the second social media threat was brought to the attention of the dean, according to an alert sent to parents. Argo students were allowed to change classes, but no visitors were allowed into the high school. Students were also not permitted to leave until the threat could be assessed. Police were stationed outside the school.

>>> 1 In Custody After Threats Made Against Argo High School

An email sent to Cook School Dist. 104 staff on Tuesday said that another SnapChat post received in a Bridgeview school showed a picture of Argo High School with an additional comment stating, “I’m going to finish the job.” Students at Dist. 104 elementary schools were kept indoors.

The high school curtailed its schedule and police maintained a heightened presence throughout the school building.

Kingsfield announced the cancellation of graduation exercises on the school's Facebook page a few hours before they were scheduled to start.

“Due to the extenuating circumstances surrounding the past 48 hours, and because graduation is supposed to be a joyous and celebratory event, graduation has been cancelled for this evening and will be rescheduled. We know many of you have family members who have travelled here to be with your family for this celebration and we apologize for the inconvenience. Information regarding the rescheduled ceremony will be communicated to senior families as soon as possible. Thank you for your concern, support, and patience with these matters.”

Argo’s graduation ceremony will be rescheduled in the near future.