BRECKENRIDGE HILLS, Mo. – A former Ritenour High School student is in custody Tuesday afternoon over a threat made on social media against the school.
In a letter addressed to “Ritenour Families,” Superintendent Dr. Chris Kilbride said the threat was forwarded to district administrators and local police through the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Courage 2 Report Tipline .
Kilbride said administrators and police identified the former student and discovered his whereabouts.
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According to a statement from the St. Ann Police Department, an officer located the student in the parking lot at Husky Academy, the district’s alternative school. Police said the student was armed with a loaded gun.
The student fled and tossed the gun, police said, but was eventually taken into custody. Husky Academy was placed on a temporary hold while police made their arrest.
Ritenour High School was previously closed on Thursday, September 12 because of an unspecified overnight threat. Students had an alternate method of instruction (AMI) day.
“I want to say how important it is for us to collaborate as a community with our law enforcement and how important it is for our students to speak up and keep everyone safe,” said Julie Hahn, Ritenour assistant superintendent for student support.
The juvenile’s true intentions were not immediately known, according to district officials.
“We always have to assume the worst,” said Kilbride. “That’s how we keep students, staff and communities safe.”
“Students and staff are tired,” said Michael Maclin, superintendent for schools for the Special School District of St. Louis Couty. “Parents are tired because of where we are now in 2024.”
He echoed the calls for students, parents and community members to report any threats to authorities.
In this case, Kilbride said there was no specific threat against any one individual other than the location of Ritenour High School.
“There was no specific date. There was no specific language other than there was an image and there was Ritenour High School in the post,” said Kilbride.
The former student was turned over to juvenile authorities on Tuesday.
You can watch Tuesday afternoon’s news conference featuring school officials and local authorities as they discuss the incident and arrest.
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