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FILLMORE, Millard County — Two Utah schools dealt with threats on Thursday, though neither threat is deemed to be credible, officials said.
Officials in Millard County investigated Thursday after an unknown man threatened Millard High School last week. The situation at the school was determined safe, but officials kept the school on “soft” lockdown throughout the day, according to a Facebook post from Millard County Sheriff’s Department.
About a week ago, a sales clerk at a convenience store helped a male customer who said he was “waiting to shoot a school” during their interaction, sheriff’s officials said. The threat wasn’t immediately reported to police.
Thursday morning, the school resource officer at Millard High School was told there would be a shooting at an assembly at the school. Authorities took immediate action, according to the sheriff’s office.
An investigation of the threat revealed that “inaccuracies had developed” as the rumor of the threat spread through the community, authorities said.
“We believe this situation is safe,” sheriff’s officials said in the Facebook post. “For now, what comes out of this experience, is a demonstration of coordinated concern and processes to keep students safe.”
Officials will continue investigating the situation to determine the identity of the man who made the threat and if he is a local resident.
Also at Pleasant Grove High School, authorities investigated a message that threatened violence Friday at the school, the same day that the school’s homecoming football game against Westlake High School is taking place, according to a letter from Westlake Principal Gary Twitchell sent to parents in the district.
School administrators and law enforcement officials reviewed the message and determined it is likely a hoax, Twitchell said.
On Tuesday, some students gave a teacher at Pleasant Grove High School a calculator with a message typed out that talked about suicide and a school shooting, and talked about doing something during homecoming, according to Pleasant Grove Police Chief Mike Roberts.
The teacher deleted the message and reported it to police on Wednesday, Roberts said. Police conducted more than 60 student interviews, but through the course of their investigation have determined the message to be a hoax, Roberts said.
However, they plan to have an increased police presence at Pleasant Grove High School, as well as more patrols in the area, throughout the day Friday, he added.
The increased law enforcement activity will continue throughout the evening’s homecoming activities, including the football game, Twitchell said.
“The safety of our Alpine (School District) community will continue to be our top priority,” he said in the letter.
