Add Pierre’s TF Riggs High School to the list of schools taking extra precautions today (Dec. 17, 2021) because of a TikTok video threatening violence at schools.
Supt. Dr. Kelly Glodt says local law enforcement is investigating. He says so far, no credible information showing there’s an actual threat to any of the school district’s buildings has been discovered.
In an email sent to parents, TF Riggs assistant principal Rob Coverdale says, “While it hasn’t been confirmed by law enforcement, we did have an unsubstantiated report that there was a video on Tic Tok this morning which did specifically mention violence at Riggs.”
Coverdale says safety of students and staff is of utmost concern for the Pierre School District. He says school administrators are committed to “balancing these social media threats in a manner so as not to cause panic and disrupt the emotional safety of our students.”
The Pierre Police Department is investigating and has additional officers at Riggs today.
Meanwhile, Meade Schools sent out a message to parents yesterday (Dec. 16) about the TikTok post and said there had been no threats directed towards their facilities. In the Rapid City Area School System, classes were canceled today (Dec. 17, 2021) because of a threat directed at a “North Middle School.” According to the Rapid City Police Department, they have been investigating the origin of the post and, at this time, they believe the threatening post was about a school in Iowa. As a precaution, there are additional law enforcement personnel on hand at the schools today.
(KBHB Radio/The Home Slice Group contributed to this story.)
Nationally…..
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Some parents kept their children home, police stepped up patrols and educators tightened security protocols Friday (Dec. 17, 2021) in response to viral TikTok posts alluding to unconfirmed threats of violence that raised anxiety levels at schools nationwide. With stress levels already soaring from the effects of the pandemic and a rash of hoax threats following a deadly school shooting in Michigan on Nov. 30, 2021, districts said they were taking precautions out of an abundance of caution. TikTok has said it is working with law enforcement to look into the warnings. In Twitter posts on Friday, the company said it had not found content promoting violence at schools but found videos discussing the rumor and warning others to stay safe.
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