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Suspect in custody after KC-area schools cancel activities Wednesday due to mass shooting threat

Blue Springs schools to resume activities Thursday
Blue Springs Police Department
Posted at 10:20 PM, Jun 14, 2022
and last updated 2022-06-15 11:07:47-04

UPDATE | The Blue Springs Police Department confirmed Wednesday morning that the suspect taken into custody for making threats of mass murder was a 19-year-old male.

Det. Keegan Hughes with the Blue Springs Police Department said the department was monitoring three houses overnight, one of which was the suspect's residence.

The department has had contact with the suspect, who they confirmed is a former student of the Blue Springs School District, in the past, but Hughes said he had not previously had any "real charges" against him.

Hughes said that the department takes all threats seriously. Police were forwarded the non-specific threat anonymously.

"Especially in this world that we live in with recent mass shootings that have been happening," he said.

Hughes said the department notified the Blue Springs School District of the threat early after learning of it and said the FBI assisted with identifying the individual.

Hughes said the department requested charges of "making terroristic threats" due to the threat that was made and its public nature, but the Jackson County Prosecuting Attorney's Office had yet to announce a determination.

"We just will not stand when our citizens are put in fear," Hughes said. "If you see something suspicious, please let us know."

The Blue Springs School District confirmed that summer school and school activities will resume Thursday. The summer school schedule has been adjusted and the final day will now be June 30.

"The safety of our schools will always be our top priority," the district said in an email to parents. "We appreciate the information that was shared and the quick response from law enforcement agencies. As always, it takes the community to work together to keep everyone safe. Thank you for your flexibility and understanding."

UPDATE | The suspect who reportedly made a comment threatening mass murder is in custody, according to the Blue Springs, Missouri, Police Department.

The department says the threats, made on Snapchat, did not indicate a specific location.

Charges are pending with the Jackson County Prosecuting Atorney's Office.

There is no ongoing threat to the community, police say.

UPDATE | The KC International Academy School announced it has closed Wednesday in response to the threat.

The Kansas City, Kansas, Public School District said in a statement that activities will continue as planned, and that it is aware of the threat and will continue to monitor the situation.

UPDATE | FBI Kansas City said in a Tweet that it "was made aware of a threat received by the Blue Springs Police Department yesterday."

"We take all threats of violence seriously and work with our local partners to provide resources as needed," the Tweet said.

The Blue Springs Police Department is leading the investigation into the threat, FBI Kansas City said.

UPDATE | Timothy Lutheran School Ministries in Blue Springs, Missouri, has canceled all school and summer care activities Wednesday.

"The seriousness of this matter and safety of your children is of utmost importance," Timothy Lutheran said in a statement made on Facebook.

St. Michael the Archangel Catholic High School in Lee's Summit, Missouri, announced it has canceled all activities Wednesday as well.

The Pleasant Hill R-III School District announced that it will be in session today, but that it will work with the Pleasant Hill Police Department to "provide added security based on threats made to Blue Springs."

UPDATE | The Oak Grove R-VI School District announced in a statement that school and summer activities are closed Wednesday.

"We know this is always an inconvenience to our families, but the safety of our students and staff is always our top priority," the district said in a statement.

UPDATE | The Odessa R-VII and Lone Jack school districts announced Wednesday that it would also cancel summer school and all district activities for the day.

Odessa Schools clarified that a specific threat to the district has not been made.

UPDATE | A School Resource Officer at the Blue Springs School District told KSHB 41 News that SROs would be posted at all summer school locations in the district Wednesday and will be on heightened alert.

UPDATE | Grain Valley Schools has joined the ranks of those canceling due to the threat.

All summer school, Valley Kids and other student programs have been canceled Wednesday, the district announced in a Tweet.

"We are closing as a precaution," the Tweet said.

UPDATE | The Fort Osage School District has announced it is joining the other Kansas City area school districts in canceling school activities Wednesday due to the mass shooting threat.

The district said in a statement that the decision comes "after receiving of a possible threat of a shooting that prompted the involvement of the FBI," and that at this time no information indicated the threat was connected to the Fort Osage School District.

"Fort Osage School District will also cancel all summer school, Fort Discovery, and any camps or student activities for Wednesday, June 15," the statement said.

ORIGINAL STORY | School Districts in the Kansas City area are canceling school activities on Wednesday after a threat of a mass shooting was reported Tuesday.

The Blue Springs, Lee's Summit and Independence School Districts announced Wednesday that activities will be canceled Wednesday and early education sites would be closed.

In a letter to families, the district said the Blue Spring Police Department alerted the FBI of possible threat related to an unspecific mass shooting.

A caller to the Blue Springs Police Department alerted officers to a social media post about a threat of a mass shooting, a department spokesperson said.

Investigators from the police department and FBI are working to find the person who made the threat.

The Blue Springs Police Department believes that person is violent.

"The FBI was made aware earlier today of a threat received by the Blue Springs Police Department," according to a statement from the FBI. "We take all threats of violence seriously and work with our local partners to provide resources as needed."

Out of an abundance of caution, the district is canceling summer school/Prime Time/all school activities on Wednesday.

The district believes the best course of action is to close summer school sites and all school programming until further notice.

The district also said it will update families before or at 7 p.m. on Wednesday.

The Lee's Summit R-7 School District and Independence School District released an announcement saying while there is no threat to their districts, they are canceling all student activities in an abundance of caution.

Lee's Summit says they will be in close communication with law enforcement throughout the day and will communicate additional information as it comes.

"It's heartbreaking that this is something schools, families and staff have to worry about," Independence School District Public Relations Director Megan Murphy said in a statement. "As both a mother and ISD employee, I'm grateful for the fast work of school administration and law enforcement. Canceling school can be a last-minute burden for families, but I appreciate seeing 'safety is a top priority' in action."

Anyone with information about the person who made the threat should call 911.