West Fargo Police Chief Denis Otterness briefs media about WF School shooting threat (Madison Quinn, KFGO News)
WEST FARGO, N.D. (KFGO) – West Fargo Police and school administrators are investigating what they call a serious school shooting threat at Cheney Middle School.
The school was closed to students with a temporary shift to at-home learning. Police Chief Denis Otterness says Snapchat and Google were notified of the threat quickly with Google very slow to respond. Otterness vows that the investigation will continue until all those involved are identified.
“We will forward all information over to the Cass County’s Attorney’s Office. Off the top of my head a charge of terrorizing would be an appropriate charge at this point,” said Otterness.
“Events like this have longer-lasting effects on how students feel than what people might realize. But our schools are very safe, and we take the safety of students and staff very seriously,” he added.
Otterness says security has been heightened at all buildings in the district and that those behind the threat will be identified and dealt with.
School Superintendent Beth Slette says such threats are very stressful, but she says West Fargo school buildings are as safe as possible.
“It’s a sad situation for our children. They come to school to learn, play with their friends, and enjoy the environment. So when something like this happens it takes away from that. It’s the same with our staff because in the back of their minds they’re thinking about this and at the same time we don’t know if a student made this threat or an adult did,” said Slette.
Authorities and school officials are urging students who know something to come forward.
School administrators and police first learned of the threat from students and parents. The post – shown below – said a shooting would take place during 8th-grade lunch with five people taking part.
West Fargo shooting threat via Snapchat (Provided)
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