Police Tell EP Parents Social Media "Threat" is Unfounded

The East Providence Police Department investigated concerns about a threat based on social media postings Friday morning and concluded that there is no and never was a threat at any city school.

“The School Department was made aware of concerns of social media chatter this morning regarding a threat. At this time there is no credible threat at any East Providence Schools,” the department said in a Facebook post. “The East Providence Police Department and school administration have worked together to address the issue.”

Police spoke with ”the child involved” and determined that “there is and has not been any intent or capacity for violence at the schools.”

The postings entailed pictures of guns and the names of children.

The student who made the postings in question isn’t even a student of East Providence schools or a resident of the city.

But police said they’re continuing to monitor the situation alongside school officials. They also increased police presence at Martin Middle School in the morning.

Police remained at the school throughout the day.

Many parents expressed dismay on the department’s Facebook page about how they learned of the situation.

Parents received and automated phone call at around 9 a.m., though teachers got an email about the situation at around 7:30 a.m. Some parents said they found out on Facebook, or their children knew about it before school.

“I don’t understand why they waited so long to tell the parents my daughter knew at 730 a.m that’s why she stayed home,” said Tricia Pacheco.

A few parents thanked the police department for keeping the public informed and taking the matter seriously and investigating it thoroughly.