Student responsible for threatening note identified

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Update: Brookings school and law enforcement officials say they have identified the student responsible for leaving the threatening note at BHS.

"The Police Department has determined the threat to students or staff no longer exists. It was further determined the individual did not have the intent or means to carry out the threat," BPD Chief Dave Erickson said.

Supt. Klint Willert says they have a confession from the student.

School will be in session in Brookings on Wednesday.

Earlier today:

BROOKINGS – All Brookings School District schools were closed and activities postponed on Tuesday after a member of the Brookings High School staff discovered late Monday afternoon a note in the school that threatened violence.

In their statements during a press conference, Brookings School District Superintendent Dr. Klint Willert and Brookings Police Chief Dave Erickson said that with no leads yet, they arrived at the decision to close the public schools and halt school activities planned for Tuesday both in and out of town at about 8:45 p.m. Monday.

The Boys & Girls Club of Brookings, St. Thomas More Catholic School and GracePoint Preschool also called classes for the day off in response, the latter two because they follow the Brookings School District schedule.

“At this time, the Brookings Police Department is working collaboratively with the Brookings School District administration to actively investigate the threat. Since this is an ongoing investigation, we cannot comment on the specifics of the threat,” Willert said.

Since Monday, there are now “some small leads that we’re following up on,” according to Erickson.

According to Erickson, all members of the Brookings Police Criminal Investigations Division and both school resource officers have been assigned to the investigation under the direction of Assistant Police Chief Derrick Powers.

 School district policy forbids threats of harm to others, Willert said, and students who violate this policy may be suspended and/or expelled.

At earliest, school would resume as normal on Wednesday, but that would depend on the outcome of the investigation, Willert said.

Still, a threat of this nature is new for Willert and the school district.

“This is unique and this is new. As we go through this process, though, I think the thing that is a key take-away for everyone is we take threats seriously, and we have to take threats seriously because of the nature of school violence across our country today,” Willert said.

With that reality in mind, the school district has already had safety procedures and plans which they regularly review and update, and they conduct active trainings in conjunction with law enforcement.

As the investigation continues, Willert and Erickson have been thankful for the positive feedback that they’ve heard from the parents, students and the community, and they urged anyone with any information about who might have written the note to notify authorities.

“If there’s any knowledge of who may have written this note, whether it’s second party or third party, we’ll take every little bit of information that we can to assist in this investigation. I encourage people to please not hesitate to call, whether they think it’s valid or not. If they have any information whatsoever, please call and we’ll be able to use that information and hopefully come to a positive conclusion to this investigation,” Erickson said.

“If anyone sees something, just a reminder to everybody to say something. School safety and security is the responsibility of everybody, whether it’s students or staff, administration or parents, community members,” Willert said. “We all need to take proactive steps to ensure the safety and security of our students and our children.”

Information regarding the note and its writer can be called in to the police department at 692-2113. For those who wish to remain anonymous, they can call Crime Stoppers at 692-7867 or text “SAFE” to 82257 and follow the prompts.

Contact Eric Sandbulte at esandbulte@brookingsregister.com.