Gun Threat At Parker Jr. High 'Not Valid': Authorities

FLOSSMOOR, IL — Reports that someone made a threat of gun violence at Parker Jr. High in Flossmoor on the social media channel Instagram are "not valid" and students and staff there are safe, the school's superintendent said.

However, Supt. Dana Smith said the junior high building would remain on Code Yellow, a limited lockdown that restricted movement in the school yet permitted students to change classes and go to lunch, until the end of the day Wednesday.

Smith said that Flossmoor police have no evidence that the students or staff are in danger as a results of the reported threat.

"The threat didn't prove credible, so at this time, a lockdown for us is an added layer of safety," Smith said. "As of now, we are safe and we're keeping our eyes open."

Police are investigating, and initially had trouble accessing the message, but the report "turned out not to be valid," Smith said.

The district sent parents a message earlier in the day to tell them that calls began coming in to Parker at 8 a.m. to report that an Instagram message threatened gun violence at the school. A lockdown immediately was put in to place, Smith said.

No other information is yet available, he added, but will be made public as it comes in.