STURGIS, S.D. – A threat on social media giant TikTok regarding school shootings on Friday has parents concerned and law enforcement on alert.
The social media threats has many educators on edge as they circulated in the aftermath of a deadly school shooting in Michigan, which has been followed by numerous copycat threats to schools elsewhere.
Law enforcement agencies investigating the threat say it doesn’t appear to be credible, however, many schools are planning to beef up their law enforcement presence.
The Meade 46-1 School District sent out a message to parents Thursday night regarding the threat.
In their message, the district says they received notice from the American Association of School Administrators about the TikTok “challenge” circulating promoting school violence for Friday.
The message indicates Superintendent Don Kirkegaard has been in contact with the sheriff’s department as well as the police department, and there is no evidence of any threat within the Meade 46-1 School District or the state of South Dakota.
School officials say they weren’t trying to alarm anyone, but simply share the social media information received.
Meade 46-1 does plan to have extra law enforcement personnel throughout the district on Friday.
Authorities say the threat originated out of Arizona, and an investigation into its origins is underway.
