Bluffton student threatened ‘mass shooting’ on school reopening date, police say
Last week, a Bluffton High School freshman posted an ominous message to a Snapchat group: “If yall don’t pull up the Oct 5 finna be a mass shooting.”
Bluffton High principal Denise Donica found out about the message on Sept. 17, one day after superintendent Frank Rodriguez announced his plan to resume in-person classes on Oct. 5.
She reported the message to Officer Oscar Frazier of the Bluffton Police Department, the school’s resource officer.
According to Frazier’s report of the incident, “it was apparent (the student) did not have a plan to threaten or harm students at the school” and that he seemed “solemn and embarrassed.”
“There were no findings that would lead to criminal charges at this time,” Frazier wrote.
The student’s name was redacted from the report, as he is a minor. Beaufort County School District spokeswoman Candace Bruder declined to comment on any disciplinary measures the student received from school, citing the FERPA federal privacy law.
Oct. 5 is the planned date to reopen school buildings in Beaufort County School District, following more than six months of coronavirus-related closures.
The district will use a hybrid instructional model, with students going to school buildings two days a week (either Monday and Tuesday or Thursday and Friday) and completing independent work two days a week. All in-person students would receive virtual instruction one day per week.