Threat leads to suspension
BY ANGEL LACLAUSTRA AND HUNTER NEAL
SNN Staff Writers
Lakewood High School’s student body was concerned recently when an anonymous note, threatening to shoot up the school, was found in the A-Wing boy’s bathroom on Nov. 28.
A student found the crinkled piece of toilet paper - reading only “Bye. Ima shoot up the school. 11.29.18.” - and posted a photo of it to Snapchat. The post was viewed by numerous students before the student who found the note turned it in and alerted administration.
By the time the student was asked to remove the post by administration, many students had already seen the post and started to spread the news like wildfire. Extra police officers were called in to investigate. The identity of the person who wrote the note is unknown, and the results of the investigation have been inconclusive, school resource officer Lerric Boyd said.
The student who found the note is a minor and is not being named by SNN. He faced repercussions, including a one-day, out-of-school suspension and a referral for posting a picture of the note on Snapchat.
“It’s harder to bring it back together when it’s posted on social media,” Lakewood principal Erin Savage said. “It hinders us to do our job.”
Savage justified the school’s actions against the student by explaining that the social media post impeded an ongoing investigation. Many Lakewood students didn’t show up because of the post, though their absences were excused. From the viewpoint of the students and some faculty, the suspension seemed unfair. Sophomore Demetrius Mitchell called the decision “dumb.”
“He did the right thing and didn’t deserve a suspension. His work should be excused for the day he missed,” Mitchell said.
Some people, however, believe that while what he did was wrong, he deserved a less harsh punishment. AMSET coordinator Rachel Fawaz said she could see it from both sides.
“He isn’t supposed to post things like that online, but as a student who doesn’t have a bad background, suspension was a bit harsh,” Schalles said.
The administration, however, said the student was acting recklessly by posting a photo of the note on Snapchat.
“Ignorance is not a defense,” Boyd said.
After the post was made, Savage sent an automated phone call to parents along with an email to teachers with the following message:
“This is Erin Savage, principal of Lakewood High School. I am calling to inform you that a safety threat was found in a Boy’s Bathroom at Lakewood High School this morning. The threat was also shared on social media by a student but has since been deleted. Law enforcement is investigating but does not believe there is a credible threat to our school. Making a school safety threat has serious consequences. We are diligent about school safety and appreciate any information students, staff or families share with us. Thank you.”
During the investigation that followed, seven students were questioned on the matter, including the student who originally reported the note.
Savage said that though the student was questioned, he was never accused of writing the note although the student felt otherwise. During his suspension, the student said he was asked to come in for further questioning before the investigation was closed.
The whole experience resulted in regret, the student wishing he hadn’t reported the note in the first place.