‘More threats’ cause school cancellation | News, Sports, Jobs

RAYLAND — Buckeye Local High School announced on social media and through a mass call Tuesday night that school would be canceled Wednesday due to “more threats.”

“We are closing to protect our students and give time for law enforcement to investigate,” the social media post reads. “Together, we are Buckeye Local.”

Buckeye Local School District staff could not be reached for further comment.

The junior and senior high school was placed on soft lockdown and all after-school activities were canceled Monday morning after staff were informed of an anonymous threat made on the social media platform Snapchat.

An investigation is ongoing into the Snapchat account that posted the threat and the individual or individuals who created it, Jefferson County Sheriff Fred Abdalla Jr. said Tuesday night. Involved are multiple law enforcement and non-law enforcement agencies, as well as parents.

Abdalla said that parents should be “vigilant” in monitoring their children’s social media activity, particularly Snapchat. Parents should tell their children that if they receive or view any type of threat on Snapchat or another platform, they should report it to their parents immediately and contact the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department at (740) 283-8600.

Parents should also advise their children to refrain from sharing or reposting screenshots or threats they may have viewed, Abdalla said. They should make their parents aware of it immediately and contact the sheriff’s department.

Threats were also reported to have been made to Weir Middle School on Monday and Martins Ferry City Schools on Tuesday.

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