Copycat School Threats in Dakota County: A Growing Concern
School officials in Dakota County are reporting a surge in copycat behavior after online threats led to the closure of several high schools on Tuesday. The incidents have raised concerns about the safety and well-being of students, as well as the potential consequences of making threats, even if they are not intended to be taken seriously.
Late Tuesday, a student at Eagle Ridge Middle School in Savage sent a threatening message to a staff member, and potentially to a staff member at Edward Neill Elementary. The Burnsville-Eagan-Savage School District 191 immediately reported the threat to local police, who identified the student and confronted them. The student, a 6th grader, admitted to sending the message in an attempt to get out of school.
Investigation and Response
The incident is part of a larger investigation into online threats that targeted several schools in the area, including Apple Valley High School, Eastview High School, and Rosemount High School. A video circulated online showed firearms spread out on a table, with wording that asked, “What should I shoot up avhs (Apple Valley High School) Or Evhs (Eastview High School).” The video also referenced Rosemount High School, saying, “Looks like Burnsville going to get shot up first” and asked people to pick a time.
Police carried out a search warrant in the 4800 block of Villa Parkway in Eagan, but did not find any weapons. Two juveniles were also questioned by Burnsville police about a second threat that targeted Nicollet Middle School in Burnsville and Eagle Ridge Middle School in Savage.
Message to Parents: Talk to Your Children
The District 191 message to families emphasized the importance of talking to children about the seriousness of making threats, even if they are not intended to be taken seriously. “It’s not unusual to see an increase in actions like this after a community experiences a social media threat,” the message read. “Unfortunately, students sometimes make bad decisions that affect many, many people around them without truly understanding their actions.”
The message urged parents to talk to their children and make sure they understand that this kind of behavior is unacceptable and can have serious consequences, both in terms of discipline policies and legal consequences. “They may even think they’re acting anonymously, but that isn’t the case,” the message continued.
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