LHS Again a Target of Social Media Threat

La Grange High School asked students to leave bags and purses at home until further notice in response to a threat made on social media Wednesday.

La Grange Police Chief David Gilbreath said a parent called police around midnight to report a threat that her child saw on the social media platform Snapchat.

“One of the subjects in a group chat made a threatening remark about shooting up the school this morning,” Gilbreath said on Wednesday, March 9. “We don’t know who the suspect is yet. There were several kids involved in the chat.”

Messages sent on Snapchat typically disappear after the recipient views them. Messages sent to a group can remain visible for a day in some cases. Gilbreath said the Federal Bureau of Investigation is assisting La Grange Police with the investigation.

“These threats will always be taken seriously,” Gilbreath said. “It’s better to be safe than sorry. If we find who did it, we’re going to prosecute them.”

La Grange Superintendent Bill Wagner informed parents about the threat in a message sent out at 5 a.m. on Wednesday.

La Grange Police and the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office will post extra officers at school for the remainder of the week.

“At this time the threat does not seem credible, however, all threats are taken very seriously,” Wagner said.