One arrest has been made in connection with a threat written on a bathroom wall at Park Hill South High School this week, according to an alert from the school’s principal. The message went out to parents on Tuesday, Feb. 2 but did not give many details. The identity of the suspect arrested in the case has not been revealed, but Park Hill South principal Dale Longenecker indicated it was a student.
The Riverside Police Department told KCTV 5 — the CBS affiliate in Kansas City — that the suspect was a juvenile student at Park HIll South.
Longenecker also said that he could not give details on punishment for the student nor the potential legal consequences. A check of court records did not show any charges filed in Platte County that would seem to pertain to the case.
“We appreciate the fast, effective response from the Riverside Police Department to keep our school safe,” Longenecker wrote. “I’m also grateful for the good work of my administrative team who worked on this investigation. And most of all, I would like to thank the students who came forward so quickly to protect their school by reporting this threat.”
According to reports, students first discovered the graffiti on Monday, Feb. 1 and reported it to administrators, starting the investigation.
A post on social media purporting to be the threatening message showed writing that said, “I hate (racial slur),” with the slur underlined. The writing continued below with a threat of gun violence on a specific date.
“Stay home if you want to live,” the message stated.
Upon discovering the threat, Park Hill South sent out an initial alert that promised a heavier police presence at the school every day that week. The second alert did not indicate if that plan had been canceled upon the arrest.
“Thank you for your support as we work to keep Park Hill South safe,” Longenecker concluded in the second alert.