8:42 a.m. update: LMS Principal Julie Shanley issues a statement on the threat and an awards ceremony scheduled for tonight has been canceled. Read more on the update and the full statement here.
Yesterday, May 15th, at 5:51pm, the Lander Middle School Twitter account posted a statement that the school and Lander Police “are aware of rumors of a potential threat made toward LMS. LMS administration and SROs have investigated this and have found no substantiated threat to LMS students or staff.”
LMS Parents – LMS, FCSD#1, and LPD are aware of rumors of a potential threat made towards LMS. LMS administration and SROs have investigated this and have found no substantiated threat to LMS students or staff.
— Lander Middle School (@Fremont1_LMS) May 15, 2019
According to the Facebook timestamp, at approximately 12:00am, the Lander Police Department posted a release on their Facebook Page regarding a possible threat to the Lander Middle School made by a 14-year-old student.
According to the release, there were two separate threats made by the same student. LPD states that FCSD#1 addressed the first (details below), but new evidence suggests that another threat may have been made related to today, May 16th. See the Facebook post and full text below.
10 is actively seeking additional information.
PRESS RELEASE:
Lander, Wyo – Last week, a fourteen (14) year-old Lander Middle School student allegedly made threats of conducting a school shooting. At the time, the school took appropriate action and suspended the student while an investigation ensued.
Today, May 15, 2019, the Lander Police Department received at least eight (8) Safe-2-Tell alert tips from concerned parents and peers to this same 14 year-old student indicating this student was going to “shoot up the school.” Upon further investigation, it was learned these Safe-2-Tell tips, received only today, were a part of last weeks incident at the Lander Middle School.
The following is a tweet from the Lander Middle School (LMS) Twitter account, posted at 4:51 PM on Wednesday, May 15, 2019;
“LMS Parents – LMS, FCSD#1, and LPD are aware of rumors of a potential threat made towards LMS. LMS administration and SROs have investigated this and have found no substantiated threat to LMS students or staff.”
However, further investigation revealed this same 14 year-old student allegedly told a peer today to “stay home from school tomorrow,” Thursday, May 16, 2019, as he/she was going to “shoot up the school.” This particular threat has not yet been officially substantiated. Leads are currently being pursued to either substantiate or discredit the threat.
This incident is currently being investigated by the Lander Police Department and the Fremont County School District #1. Please be assured, every effort is being made to keep all school campuses, staff and students safe. There will be a heightened uniformed law enforcement presence at all FCSD #1 schools on Thursday, May 16th.
With respect to the laws governing juveniles, the names of any FCSD #1 student will not be subject to public record. Please check back for updates to this investigation.