Fox Lane Student Makes Threatening Social Media Post; Officials Say No Imminent Danger
A threatening social media post from a Fox Lane High School student on Sunday sent shockwaves through the Bedford school community Monday, but district officials and police assured families there was no danger to students.
Bedford Superintendent of Schools Dr. Joel Adelberg informed community members Monday morning in an e-mailed letter and in an online message that a disturbing post on SnapChat from an unidentified student had been circulating among members of the student body, which notified the district of the communication.
Adelberg said the district immediately notified its school resource officer, Bedford police and the Westchester County Police Department. County officers visited the boy’s Mount Kisco residence where he was interviewed with his parents present, police said. The family was cooperative and the student was not in school on Monday.
“While we cannot share the details of the investigation, please know that this is taken seriously,” Adelberg stated. “The police determined, based upon their investigation, that there is no imminent threat to our school community.”
There was added police presence at the campus on Route 172 on Monday, in addition to the regular school resource officer, he said. Classes were held as scheduled, although sources confirmed a significant number of students leaving school. There was also no interruption of classes at the middle school or the district’s five elementary schools.
A screenshot of the student’s social post was reviewed by The Examiner, which read “Pray the government never gives me by gun license don’t come to school monday, y’all.” Reports have circulated over social media that the post was added to by another student, making the comment sound threatening in a way that was not intended. But The Examiner has not been able to independently verify that assertion.
The incident lit up local social media boards, with some parents outraged they weren’t informed of the incident last night or before they sent their children to school early Monday morning. Some noted that Tuesday is the ninth anniversary of the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newton, Conn.
“I think it is evident, at least to me, that this is not being dealt with seriously enough nor (is) the communication to the community adequate,” one parent posted. “So discouraging and disheartening give the climate we are living in.”
Others noted the student made additional posts later Monday morning; those posts were also reviewed by The Examiner.
Adelberg thanked students and parents who swiftly contacted district personnel and the police upon learning of the threatening post.
“We cannot stress the continuing importance for vigilance,” he stated. “These are challenging times and we must look out for and protect one another.”
There will be updates when more information becomes available.
Martin has more than 30 years experience covering local news in Westchester and Putnam counties, including a frequent focus on zoning and planning issues. He has been editor-in-chief of The Examiner since its inception in 2007. Read more from Martin’s editor-author bio here. Read Martin’s archived work here: https://www.theexaminernews.com/author/martin-wilbur2007/