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Student detained after Facebook post details school shooting plan
(update)
By Chris Beattie, cbeattie@starlocalnews.com
Police have detained a McKinney Boyd High School student who allegedly posted on Facebook a plan detailing a mass shooting at the school.
The student's post, prefaced with "don't worry I'm not going to do anything," asked others if they'd noticed "how easy it would be to commit a school shooting at our school." The post then outlined how it could be done.
Police immediately investigated and identified the student responsible. At around 9:25 p.m., they went to the student's residence and detained the student, whose identity cannot be released because of age.
Cody Cunningham, McKinney ISD public information officer, said that he received initial word of the post from McKinney Boyd Principal Rick McDaniel, and school district officials immediately notified police.
"The McKinney Police Department takes any threat very seriously," Deputy Chief Joe Ellenburg said. "However, a threat against the safety and security of our schools will always be of the highest priority."
Cunningham called the student's post "very alarming" and "very specific as to what they would do at the school." As soon as the school district knew the student was detained, he said, officials "felt comfortable that everything would be safe."
McKinney ISD released the following statement about the situation early Tuesday:
"Monday evening we received information regarding threatening statements posted by a McKinney Boyd High School student on Facebook. District officials immediately notified law enforcement agencies and action was taken to address the situation. The individual has been detained and is in custody of the McKinney Police Department. As always, student safety is our number one priority and such comments, whether sincere or as a joke, will not be tolerated and the District will prosecute to the fullest extent that the law allows. We appreciate your support and look forward to a safe and productive day of learning at McKinney Boyd High School on Tuesday."
Cunningham said additional comments on Facebook in response to the situation suggested the student had been bullied. "We take bullying very seriously, and there's a process in place to address it and hold students accountable," he said, adding that bullying does not excuse such terroristic threats and that the student will be held accountable for the post.
There was more of a police presence at McKinney Boyd on Tuesday "not because (officials) feel like there's a safety issue, but to reassure students and for them to feel comfortable," he said.
Police had not yet charged the student, but he was still in protective custody as of Wednesday afternoon, Ellenburg said.
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