Threat Of Violence Against Manhattan Jr. High Unfounded: District 114

MANHATTAN, IL — Police were called to Manhattan Jr. High early Wednesday, after a parent reported a threat of violence made against the school via social media, Manhattan police said.

School administrators determined the threat to be unfounded, a message from the district to parents reads.

School officials were notified at 7:29 a.m. Wednesday of "a concerning communication" made by a Manhattan Junior High student via social media, the message says.

"Any content posing a potential threat to our school and students must be investigated immediately and thoroughly," the district wrote. "MJHS administration and the Manhattan Police collaborated to complete a thorough investigation and the threat was deemed unfounded."

The school was placed on hold while police were present, the district said. Students and teachers remained in their classrooms and were able to transition to classes, officials said.

The hold was later lifted at 9:34 a.m., the district said. School administrators followed district protocol, officials said.

"... in the event of a threat present on campus, our school would move into secure or lockdown," the message reads. "In the event of either, communication to families would begin immediately and continue every 5-10 minutes for the duration of the situation.

"The safety and security of our students is our top priority. We continue to work closely with the Manhattan Police Department to utilize Standard Response Protocols to ensure clear communication and to maximize student safety under varying circumstances."