Police presence planned at Lawrence high school after Snapchat threat to harm students

A Free State High School student’s Snapchat threat to kill people Monday prompted Lawrence Public Schools to plan for increased police presence at the school on Tuesday.

But an ice storm and winter advisory led to the cancellation of school on Tuesday.

Lawrence police officers took a person to a medical facility for evaluation after visiting a west Lawrence home in response to the social media threat around 8 p.m, Lawrence Police Sgt. Amy Rhoads told The Star.

An affidavit was submitted to the Douglas County District Attorney’s Office.

The message sent home to parents in an email and through a recorded message read:

A Free State student reported to school staff that another Free State student made an indirect threat on Snapchat about killing people. Lawrence police are investigating. The student’s parents have been notified and disciplinary action initiated. We will continue to work with police to ensure school safety. There will be a police presence at Free State tomorrow. As more information about the police investigation is made available, we will plan to share it.

Julie Boyle, the communications director for Lawrence Public Schools, told The Star that there will be a police presence at Free State High School when students return to class on Wednesday.

This story was originally published February 20, 2018 at 1:49 PM with the headline "Police presence planned at Lawrence high school after Snapchat threat to harm students."