Winnebago County Sheriff says it is aware of social media threat against schools

MACHESNEY PARK, Ill. (WTVO) — The Winnebago County Sheriff’s Department is notifying parents of an anonymous social media post making threats against schools and is taking precautions.

Harlem High School and Sterling Public Schools notified parents of a threat circulating on social media this morning, saying the threat was deemed “not credible” by investigators.

Matthew Magnafici, the principal of Regan Middle School, in Dixon, said that Sterling Police were investigating a potential threat to Challad Middle School on Friday.

“Their investigation determined that the threat is highly likely to be linked to a national social media post circulating on Snapchat, rather than a local, targeted concern,” Magnafici said in a statement.

“As a precaution, we will be increasing our vigilance and will have an extra administrative and police presence in and around our building,” he said.

According to Harlem Principal Jeremy Bois, school officials were notified of a “concerning post” on social media early Friday morning. “We immediately engaged in our Threat Assessment Protocol and determined that there is no credible threat to students or staff,” he said.

The Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office and security staff are engaged in “monitoring and maintaining building safety,” Bois added.

The Sheriff’s Office later issued a statement, saying, “The Sheriff’s Office is aware of an anonymous Snapchat post circulating nationwide regarding potential school shooter threats.  The Sheriff’s Office want to assure you that at this time there is no verified information linking these posts to any specific school in our jurisdiction. The Sheriff’s Office takes this and any social media threat serious and have been in contact with our School Resource Officers and we are working actively with school district officials to ensure that additional safety precautions are in place.”

The news comes one week after a massive police force responded to an incident to the school’s football stadium, in response to a large fight that saw student combatants engaging other students, security personnel, and police.

According to eyewitnesses, panicked onlookers began fleeing the stadium after what Bois said was a “false report of a firearm.”

Four teens were arrested.

As a result, Harlem administrators have set forth new rules for games attendance, including: all high school-age attendees are required to present an identification card from Harlem or a visiting school; no one under 18 will be admitted after 8 p.m. or the end of the first quarter; students will be required to be in the stands, and are not permitted behind the bleachers or near the ticket booth; only medical masks are allowed as face coverings; and all visiting students and fans are required to enter through the south end ticket booth.

Previously existing rules still apply, which restrict backpacks and allow for the search of any other type of bag; no re-entry once a student leaves the stadium; and all Harlem students are required to have at least 70 Huskie Points in order to attend any extracurricular event.

“We do have added game day personnel and we will have more presence from law enforcement. We will have more deputies from the sheriff’s department coming through on patrol. We’re extra mindful of what’s going on,” said Bois. “Again, what we want to do is to enhance that fan experience. We do feel we’ve got some magic out there under the Friday night lights and it’s a lot of fun and we want people to experience that.”

Harlem will play Hononegah this Friday, September 13th, at 5 p.m.

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