Killeen Student Arrested Following Social Media Threats

There was an enhanced police presence on Killeen ISD campuses Thursday after a student was arrested for issuing threats against three schools on social media.

Killeen ISD officials report that a 14-year-old middle school student posted threatening language against Ellison, Shoemaker, and Killeen High School around 4:30 PM Wednesday. Killeen police obtained a search warrant soon after the threat came to their attention, and the student was taken into custody around 10:30 PM.

The student was charged with a felony offense of making terroristic threats. Killeen ISD officials say they plan to prosecute to the full extent of the law, and that the threats constitute an expulsion offense. Police will also be investigating anyone who liked or forwarded the threat online.

Authorities do not believe any students were or are in immediate danger, but police were patrolling on campuses Thursday to ensure student safety.

“We take any kind of threat like this very seriously," said Superintendent John Craft. "Parents, please help us to make sure students know that if they ever make a threat against the school, they will be charged with a felony and sent to jail or juvenile detention. The safety of everyone on campus is always our highest priority, and no threat such as this will ever be tolerated on any Killeen ISD campus."

Students and parents should know this: Any threats, even those that may be posted as a joke, are going to be taken very seriously, and prosecution is a real possibility.