Hillsboro Police heard about an alleged threat of a shooting planned for Jan. 13 at Hillsboro High School and determined it was an unfounded rumor a student had started.
“The latest update on the alleged threat has come to a conclusion,” Hillsboro Police posted Jan. 14 on its Facebook page. “The initial student of interest’s family has been very cooperative. The identified student is no longer a person of interest and has been cleared of any participation of illegal activities at the school. We were able to track down the source of the alleged active shooter rumor and confirmed it was only a rumor.”
According to the rumored threat, the alleged shooting was supposed to happen during a school assembly.
Police Chief Steve Meinberg said the threat was investigated and police determined it was not credible.
“There was no lockdown and no evacuation,” Meinberg said. “Everything ran on schedule.”
However, assemblies scheduled that day were canceled, Hillsboro Superintendent Isaacson said.
In a letter Isaacson sent to district parents on Jan. 13, he said, “staff, in conjunction with local law enforcement, took action to address an alleged specific threat of harm toward students attending assemblies scheduled for the school day (Jan. 13). Police were present on campus prior to students arriving, supervision of exterior doors was established and the student who allegedly made the threat was secured. A full investigation ensued and progressed quickly. Out of abundance of caution, the assemblies were cancelled and staff were asked to limit student travel during class time.”
The letter further stated that students were free to move from class to class and outside of the building for specified assignments.
Police learned about the threat the night of Jan. 12 and contacted R-3 school officials, Isaacson said.
He also said the student alleged to be involved in spreading the rumor is under investigation.
“If you make up a rumor reporting a threat, it is the same as someone who makes a threat,” Isaacson said. “It created a lot of chaos and was disappointing.”
Social media discussion of the rumor added fuel to public concerns, Isaacson said.
“Rumors about other students being involved began to circulate. They were investigated and determined to be unfounded. Several other rumors and misinformation were shared on social media also were determined to be unfounded,” he said in his letter to parents.
Isaacson said the district takes all threats seriously.
“Our first concern is always public safety,” he said.