Police respond to gun threat at SPASH
By Brandi Makuski
Additional police will be on hand at SPASH today in response to a gun threat made in the school on Thursday.
The threat was reportedly made during a tech ed class, when one student told another he would “get me a gun and shoot some n—grs.”
District officials have remained tight-lipped on the issue, not even confirming details of the incident. Principal Jon Vollendorf sent a email to parents describing “a reckless, insensitive, and inappropriate comment made by one of our students.”
Vollendorf said the school has been working with Stevens Point police, and together they determined the statement “did not endanger or threaten the safety of students or staff.”
School officials became aware of the incident after a black student texted his father about the racist remark; the father then contacted SPASH with his concerns but claims no one returned his call quickly, and took his frustration to social media. Within a few hours, his post has been shared over 200 times.
Assistant Police Chief Tom Zenner said as soon as police were made aware the racist remark included a gun threat, they acted immediately.
“I can understand completely the parents were concerned about the statement—I’m a parent, too,” Zenner said late Thursday night. “I can confirm that some inappropriate comments were made related to race, but a bigger concern for our department would be the gun threat, even if it wasn’t made at a specific person.”
Zenner said police interviewed a male student who admitted making the remarks, and they determined the threat wasn’t intended to be serious.
Nonetheless, the student who made the statement will face charges.
“I can confirm that charges are in the process of being submitted against the student,” Zenner said, adding police were communication with District Attorney Louis Molepske to determine what those charges might be.
“We’re not taking it as a viable threat,” Zenner said, “but we’ll certainly respond accordingly, and we will have additional officers at the school tomorrow.’
