Carson City School District, sheriff's office address social media threats
The Carson City Sheriff’s Department and the Carson City School District have been made aware of several national TikTok social media posts threatening gun violence at any-given school on Friday, Dec. 17, 2021.
There is no information that specifically identifies any Carson City school. Authorities believe the social media posts, which appear to be originating outside of the State of Nevada, started as an attempt to cancel school before winter vacation, according to Carson City Schools Superintendent Richard Stokes in a news release.
The Carson City Sheriff’s Department is monitoring social media along with state and federal law enforcement. Currently there is no credible threat from these social media posts to any school in Carson City, said Carson City Sheriff Ken Furlong and Superintendent Stokes.
The district’s top priority is the safety of students and staff. The Sheriff's department will have an increased physical presence on all school campuses this week. As of right now, social media threats appear to be a stunt with no credibility, but the district continues to remain vigilant and proactive in taking any threat seriously, said Stokes.
Anyone with information of any specific threat or witness to any suspicious activity in or around schools, should notify Carson City School District administration, individual school principals or the Carson City Sheriff’s Office immediately.
Any student caught making a violent threat on social media causing a school disturbance will be prosecuted to the fullest extent possible.
Carson City Sheriff Ken Furlong notes that any threat is taken seriously with many measures in place to address threats, including the involvement of the Carson City Sheriff's Office School Resource Officers and Mobile Outreach Teams.
"Every concern that has been elevated to us we are diligently pursuing and following up on," said Sheriff Furlong. No known threats exist at this time, he added.
"If you have concerns please contact the sheriff's office. We are eager to assist," said Furlong.