Threats To Racine Area Schools: Police Apprehend 2 Juveniles

RACINE, WI — The Racine Police Department apprehended two juveniles Thursday in reference to threats of violence against three Racine area schools, the department said in a news release Friday. Police said the threats were not credible.

The apprehension of the two juveniles comes after messages and rumors about a school violence challenge on Friday, Dec. 17 were shared nationwide on the social media platform TikTok and beyond this past week. The circulation of the messages prompted school districts across the country to alert parents of the trend.

Racine police said they are aware of the threats that have been circulated nationwide on social media and the department is working with the Racine Unified School District to continue to provide a safe learning environment, according to the news release.

The "troubling" trend has put schools on alert across the nation, and has led to some school closures in Wisconsin.

In Lake Geneva, students at Badger High School were dismissed early on Friday following a threat to the school that administrators said was connected to the TikTok challenge, the district announced on Facebook.

"This action is being taken, even though we feel the threat is not credible, to error on the side of the safety of our students. In addition, all after-school activities will be canceled this evening at Badger. Since this threat was specific to Badger High School, all other Lake Geneva Schools will remain open today," the district posted on Facebook.

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