Steubenville Rape Case: Shooting Threat Prompts Lockdown of Ohio School District
Federal officials were notified of a shooting threat made through social media, which caused district schools in Steubenville, Ohio, to remain in "precautionary lockdown" for over 90 minutes on Tuesday — according to WTOV9.com.
The school district, who remains in the midst of a much publicized rape case investigation allegedly uncovered by hacktivist group Anonymous, first heard about the supposed threat around 8:30 a.m., when a student found a Facebook post with a "non-specific shooting-type threat," said Superintendent Mike McVey.
During the lockdown, students were not dismissed from school and parents were notified via the district's automated phone system. According to USA Today, Superintendent McVey said that "all the attention the district has received" prompted officials to "station a guard" at each school building. Police also searched all buildings during the lockdown.
The threat was cleared around 10 a.m., after police reportedly went to the student's house to investigate what he found on Facebook. Officials then determined that the threat was "not credible" and lifted the lockdown. Parents were then allowed to pick up their children from school if they desired to do so.
The lockdown included keeping lights turned off and people away from windows. McVey said "because of the national attention the district is receiving [...] the district started having additional security guards stationed at each school until further notice.
