Threat At Wilde Lake High School Was 'Joke': Student

COLUMBIA, MD — A Wilde Lake High School student who made a joke about a school shooting has been disciplined and has issued a public apology. Administrators were made aware of the troubling Snapchat post on Monday, and the Howard County Police Department conducted an investigation, according to Principal Rick Wilson.

The "inappropriate social media post...implied the possibility of a violent event here," Wilson said.

Wilde Lake staff and the Howard County Police Department identified the person who created the post and confirmed that there were no plans to follow through with the threat, according to Wilson. He said the boy has since been disciplined in accordance with school system policy, and the student asked to share a letter of apology regarding the incident.

"I did not know that a joke with a few friends would be spread to the public," the Wilde Lake student wrote in a public apology that the school shared on Thursday with permission from his parents. "Wilde Lake should not have to deal with things like this especially with current events in the world....I am truly sorry and can assure you all this will not happen again."

Wilson said that he was grateful to the students and their caregivers, who helped bring the situation to light.

"I am sharing this information with you, first and foremost, to make you aware and also to acknowledge and say a sincere and public 'Thank You' to the students who came forward with this information," Wilson said in a letter to families Thursday.

"I also want to recognize the parents, guardians, and caregivers of these students, as it is very clear that conversations at home were behind our students’ willingness to come forward with this information," Wilson said. "Thanks again to our students, staff, and families who make this a great community."

Last month in Anne Arundel County, a teen was charged for making a threat toward a school there that he, too, claimed was a joke.

Here is the letter from Wilde Lake High School Principal Rick Wilson:

December 6, 2017

Dear Wilde Lake Community:
I am writing to inform you of a recent inappropriate social media post by one of our students and to make you aware of the response by Wilde Lake High School staff and the Howard County Public School System.
On Monday morning, December 5th, Wilde Lake administration was made aware of a Snapchat post by one of our students that implied the possibility of a violent event here. Wilde Lake staff and the Howard County Police Department immediately took steps to investigate this incident, including identifying the individual responsible for the post. This investigation was completed quickly and it was confirmed that no plans had been made to follow through on this threat. The student involved has been disciplined in accordance with the HCPSS Code of Conduct.

With permission from his parents, the student involved has asked that I share the following information with our community:

Dear Wilde Lake High School,
I am very sorry for the snapchat that was sent acting like a school shooter. I did not know that a joke with a few friends would be spread to the public. I just want to say that the perceived threat was really a joke between my friends making fun of shooters. Wilde Lake should not have to deal with things like this especially with current events in the world. This joke, which was in poor taste, was not meant to spread beyond my friends or cause any fear. I am truly sorry and can assure you all this will not happen again.
Sincerely,
Wilde Lake student

I am sharing this information with you, first and foremost, to make you aware and also to acknowledge and say a sincere and public “Thank You” to the students who came forward with this information. I also want to recognize the parents, guardians, and caregivers of these students, as it is very clear that conversations at home were behind our students’ willingness to come forward with this information.
Thanks again to our students, staff, and families who make this a great community. Please contact me with any questions that you may have.

Sincerely,
Rick
Rick Wilson
Principal

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