NEW ORLEANS — Police are investigating around a dozen threats made to schools in New Orleans Wednesday night, the NOPD said. No incidents were reported at any of the targeted schools.
NOPD Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick said at a press conference Thursday that the first threat was reported through Crimestoppers. Then more came, including some directly to the NOPD. “Some of the threats were written on school property, [and] some of them came through social media,” said Deputy Chief Ryan Lubrano.
As of now, the NOPD has not released a list of the schools affected.
Sophie B. Wright seems to be the only school that closed for the entire day Thursday, saying on its Facebook page that it was due to the threats. Inspire NOLA Charter Schools confirmed Mcdonough 35 Senior High School and Eleanor McMain Secondary School were targeted. Viewers told us Bethune Elementary and Livingston Collegiate Academy had notified parents those schools were targeted as well.
One also shared a screenshot circulated in a social media group for parents at Bethune. “ATTENTION ALL BETHUNE STUDENTS, I WILL BE THERE TO SHOOT THE SCHOOL UP DURING SCHOOL HOURS. BE PREPARED!” it reads.
NOPD Deputy Superintendent Hans Ganthier said this was more widespread than any school threat incident the department has seen. “We've had some threats before, and were able to actually identify those persons that did that, but never to this extent,” he said Thursday.
Investigators believe more than one person was responsible. The NOPD has identified some of the callers who made the threats, Deputy Chief Lubrano said, but no suspects have been publicly named and no arrests have been announced.
Anyone arrested in connection with this incident could face terrorism charges. “Whether they think this is a prank or this is a serious threat, in any event, it is absolutely not tolerated. There will be consequences,” said Superintendent Kirkpatrick.
Thursday, NOPD officers were seen patrolling schools around the city including Sophie B. Wright, which is set to resume classes Friday morning.
Officials stressed that Wednesday night’s situation should serve as a reminder to parents and students to report any threats they see. “Let's not just keep repeating and sharing amongst each other, share it where the authorities and the investigators can take action,” said Darlene Cusanza, Executive Director of Greater New Orleans Crimestoppers. The organization manages the app Safe Schools Louisiana which parents can use to do so.
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