Local law enforcement responds to recent threats against Hancock County School District

HANCOCK COUNTY, W.Va. ( WTRF ) – All Hancock County Schools were closed Wednesday after another threat was made toward Weir Middle School.

The first threat against Weir Middle was brought to the attention of law enforcement on Monday when a student allegedly posted to snapchat, “I’m shooting up Weir Middle.” The Weirton Police Department immediately investigated and found the student who made the threat.

Hancock County Prosecuting Attorney Steven Dragisich confirmed with 7News the 6 ^th grade student who allegedly made the threat is being charged with a felony offense of Threatening a Terroristic Act.

Dragisich says, “ “I have zero tolerance for any individual who makes any such threats in Hancock County. ”

LINK: West Virginia 6th grader charged with Threatening A Terroristic Act after school threat

Weirton PD along with other agencies are investigating these threats and working around the clock to ensure all students, staff and faculty are safe.

Weirton PD’s Chief Charlie Kush tells us they have also spoken to the FBI regarding these threats, and they are offering their assistance

“There are threats being made in other counties in Ohio, and other places in West Virginia, in the Panhandle. So, we’ve been in contact with our surrounding agencies to work with them to try to figure out where these are coming from to see if they have anything to do with each other so we can make an arrest. If you receive anything that you feel is threatening towards the school or anything else, to let law enforcement now immediately.”

Chief Charlie Kush | Weirton Police Department

Hancock County Sheriff Scott Gittings says his office and Weirton PD have been proactive in investigating all threats.

The first step is informing the PROs within the schools.

“If we get a threat for a school in our jurisdiction, usually the first thing we do, we check with the PRO officer and get them on, make sure they’re aware of it and get them started on the background of the individual and if we know the individual. It depends how it comes in through social media or just word of mouth.”

Sheriff Scott Gittings | Hancock County Sheriff’s Office

From there, they coordinate with other law enforcement agencies and investigators and stay in constant communication with the Board of Education.

“You have to take every threat seriously because you never know. We’re going to be having a meeting with our PROs just to make sure we have everything in place that we need so that when they’re ready to go back to school, we’re ready. We just keep vigilant.”

Sheriff Scott Gittings | Hancock County Sheriff’s Office

There are PRO officers in every Hancock County School at all times. Gittings says they host trainings multiple times a year for their deputies, local officers and school employees to learn how to respond to an active shooting situation.

Kush says all of his officers are trained, prepared and have the equipment to respond to any threat.

Hancock County Superintendent Dan Enich told 7News in a statement: ““I want to thank Prosecuting Attorney Dragisich, the Weir Middle School staff, and PRO Dennis for identifying and resolving the threat issue from Monday. We will stay vigilant in our continued investigations.”

To view the full statement Enich released to the public, click or tap here .

This is a developing story so stay with 7News for updates.

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