12-year-old arrested after school shooting threat found in Blaine middle school bathroom

Blaine Police Department (BPD) officers arrested a 12-year-old suspect after graffiti threatening a December 15 school shooting was found in a boys bathroom in Blaine middle school on the morning of December 14. The suspect was arrested without incident and booked into Whatcom County Juvenile Detention Center, according to a BPD statement.

This follows a similar incident where the Blaine school district went into lockout around four hours long December 10 while BPD investigated graffiti found in a girls bathroom on the high school campus. The investigation found no evidence of an active threat, superintendent Christopher Granger said in a message released after the incident.

Other school districts in the county have experienced similar threats in recent weeks.

Following the district and BPD investigating and resolving the second threat in a matter of two school days, the agencies asked in a joint December 14 statement for community help in future situations. BPD chief Donnell Tanksley and Granger signed the statement.

“In the vast majority of cases, these posts turn out to be non-credible threats where students did not intend harm or do not have access to weapons that could cause harm to a school,” the statement read. “Students will often say the online post or threat was a joke. We want to emphasize to you that the safety of our children is not a joke.”

The statement goes on to say both agencies will take every threat seriously and investigate it thoroughly, and there are consequences for those guilty of threatening schools, students and staff.

In order to prevent such incidents, the statement asks parents to talk to their children about consequences of sharing threats of violence and monitor children’s online activity. It also asks parents to remind their children that if they see something, they should say something to school administration, use the school’s anonymous online tool, “Report It!” or text a tip to 844/201-8732.

The statement closes saying, “Our intent in sending this letter is not to cause worry or angst. It is to share what really happens when students make these choices, and to inform on the significant impacts it causes for them, their family and our entire community.”

To view the statement in its entirety, go to bit.ly/3dVpGdA.

Communication

During the first incident investigation last Friday, many parents expressed their frustration that they found out about the lockout through social media rather than the district directly. An automated call to parents announced the lockout was being lifted because it was near the end of the school day and needed for student release. Some wished they had received a call earlier regarding the lockout.

In the December 12 follow-up message to parents, Granger apologized for the lack of communication during the event.

“We sincerely regret the communication failures that occurred Friday and offer our apologies,” he wrote. “I’d also like to thank all of you who have provided us feedback and the opportunity to improve.”

Granger said previously automated calls have been used only when action is required of a parent or guardian. But following the incident, he said the district will now add an automated call to its initial notification process.

After the investigation was completed, the district lifted the lockout; pick up and student release occurred as usual at 2:50 p.m.

According to a district notice sent out during lockout, there was no verified threat on any of the district’s campuses, but no one was permitted to enter or exit any of the campuses from about 11 a.m. to 2:50 p.m. while classes continued as usual. With threats in multiple Whatcom County schools in the past few weeks, BPD investigated the situation and provided an increased presence on the district’s campus.

A lockout is called when there is a threat or hazard outside of the school building.

In his message, Granger said BPD would continue to have an increased presence on and around school campuses during the week as a safety precaution.

BPD reminded parents of the classroom response protocols in an announcement.

“Entering a school during a lockout or lockdown is very dangerous and irresponsible,” a BPD spokesperson wrote. “Anyone who does so puts themselves, the children, staff, and law enforcement at risk of severe injury. School staff will be taking attendance during and after an incident to make sure every child is accounted for and safe.”