Teen arrested after social media threats prompt school cancellations, early dismissals in south metro

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    Threats prompt school cancellations in Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan district, Burnsville high schoolsClasses at Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan high schools are canceled Tuesday after the district reported possible threats. Additionally, students at Burnsville High School and Burnsville Area High School were dismissed early due to threats.

Classes at Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan high schools were canceled Tuesday after the district reported possible threats. Additionally, students at Burnsville High School and Burnsville Alternative High School were dismissed early due to threats.

Social media posts circulating online appeared to show images of guns with the caption, “What should I shoot up avhs or Evhs.” Another post appeared to be a threatening poll listing Burnsville, Rosemount, Eastview and Apple Valley high schools.

Apple Valley police announced that a 16-year-old has been arrested in connection with the threats after a search warrant execution in Eagan. No weapons were found during the execution on the search warrant.

District 196

A note to families sent by the district — which came after some kids were already on buses or at school — states, “District 196 has received notification of potential online threats toward 196 High Schools today.”

In coordination with law enforcement and “out of an abundance of caution,” the district says it decided to close the high schools for the day.

The district’s note said students who’d already arrived at school will be returned home by buses.

Burnsville High School

District 191 says it didn’t find out about the threat until 7:30 a.m. Tuesday, adding, “Please note that the initial threatening messages according to police, which were posted last night, mentioned neighboring high schools and not Burnsville. We were only made aware this morning.”

School officials stated, “We started the day in a ‘HOLD.’ We’ll be canceling at BHS and BAHS and conducting an orderly dismissal this morning with extra police presence for safety.  All students and staff are safe. We’re continuing to work with local police to investigate.”

During the hold, BHS told parents not to come to the school but instead, wait for more information from the district.

Officials say classes were canceled for the rest of the day at the high school and Burnsville Alternative High School after the hold is lifted at around 9:30 a.m. All students and staff are safe, the district added.

Additionally, the district’s calendar says the basketball games against Rosemount on Tuesday night are now postponed until further notice.

District 191’s website also indicated all middle and elementary school students will be sent home “approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes earlier than normal,” and all after-school activities are canceled.

Burnsville middle schools

Later in the day, a second threat was posted targeting Nicollet and Eagle Ridge middle schools.

Police shared they are currently questioning two juveniles in connection with this threat.

Investigators don’t believe the two threats are connected.

Police response

Extra police were spotted at the south metro schools in the wake of the threat.

Apple Valley Police said it was alerted to the threats around 6:45 p.m. on Monday. The origin of the threats is still under investigation.

Eagan Police said it continues to monitor the situation and support its partners but believes the posts didn’t originate in Eagan.

Burnsville Police said it is working closely with the district and partnering agencies to investigate, adding that the threats “are being taken seriously and an active investigation is underway.”

More information is expected to be released at a later time. Follow 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS on social media to ensure you don’t miss any updates.

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The post Teen arrested after social media threats prompt school cancellations, early dismissals in south metro first appeared on KSTP.com 5 Eyewitness News.