Threat Made Against Maple Grove High School Through Social Media

MAPLE GROVE, MN — Maple Grove High School was targeted Monday by a threat from an Instagram account, prompting an investigation by police.

Principal Bart Becker sent a letter Monday to families warning of a newly created Instagram account that made a threat against the school in its bio section. The account also had “MGHS” and “shooter” in its name, Becker said.

Officials immediately contacted police after finding the threats, according to Becker, who said other school districts in the Twin Cities metro were also threatened through social media.

“I can understand why this account is causing concern with students and families,” Becker said. “The recent violence at a Michigan high school has a lot of us tense and on edge.”

Ethan Crumbley, 15, is accused of killing four students and injuring seven others Nov. 30 in a shooting at Oxford High School, which is about 30 miles north of Detroit. He was charged as an adult with murder, terrorism and related gun crimes.

Crumbley’s parents, James and Jennifer, were charged with involuntary manslaughter, with prosecutors alleging they bought their son the gun several days before the shooting and gave him access to it, the Associated Press reports.

James and Jennifer Crumbley met with school officials on the morning of the shooting after a teacher found a drawing by Ethan Crumbley that showed a gun, a bullet and a person who appeared to have been shot, according to the report.

Crumbley’s parents refused to take their son out of school that day, according to the district’s superintendent, the report states.

The Maple Grove Police Department is investigating the threat against Maple Grove High School, Sgt. Aaron Schonning confirmed to Patch on Monday evening.

Schonning said he could not provide any details about the investigation or the threat against the high school, which has a school resource officer from the Maple Grove Police Department.

The department is not making any "operational changes" as a result of the threat, Schonning said.

Becker asked students to tell officials about “any safety concerns immediately” so the district can “take appropriate action” with police.

“Working together, we can keep our school safe,” Becker said.