School Threat Rumors At Plainfield Central Unfounded: District, Cops

PLAINFIELD, IL — Rumors of a threat at Plainfield High School - Central Campus circulated on social media this week, but police and school officials said they were just that: unfounded rumors. Some Plainfield Central parents posted about the alleged threat Tuesday night, including at least one parent who urged others to keep their kids at home because of a "rumor that a student has threatened to shoot up the school tomorrow." By late Wednesday morning, that post appeared to have been deleted.

District 202 Director of Community Relations Tom Hernandez said he received a text from a parent asking about the supposed threat on Tuesday night, and Plainfield Central Principal Dave Stephens and district officials worked with Plainfield police, who determined the threat was not credible.

In email and texts messages sent Wednesday morning, Stephens notified parents that the rumors had been investigated. (For more information on this and other neighborhood stories, subscribe to Patch to receive daily newsletters and breaking news alerts.)

"School officials in conjunction with Plainfield Police have investigated and results show no credible evidence to such rumor(s)," Stephens said. "The mis-information contained on social media postings has negatively fueled the belief in this rumor," he added, saying the safety and security of students is the district's top priority.

"Given our size, it would be impossible and inappropriate to address every rumor that occurs," Hernandez said Wednesday. "However, we absolutely will communicate directly, and provide accurate, appropriate information, about anything that is truly a concern."

Image via Patch file