Jefferson City School District says students behind last week’s threat referred to police

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

Students who were involved in a social media threat against Thomas Jefferson Middle School in Jefferson City have been suspended and are being referred for expulsion and police investigation, the principal said in a letter to parents sent over the weekend.

Principal Shawn Kelsch warned parents of the threats last Friday morning, saying police had increased their presence at the school and identified the students who made the threat. The students' parents were contacted and they were not at school that day, Kelsch wrote. He didn't give details about the threat.

Kelsch said in a follow-up letter sent over the weekend that the added police presence would continue this week.

"Behaviors and threats like these will not be tolerated at Thomas Jefferson Middle School," Kelsch wrote.

Social media threats against schools resurfaced Thursday this week when a TikTok challenge encouraging students to make threats against their schools drew attention.