Girl, 12, released from custody after making threats to St. Paul schools, police say
ST. PAUL, Minn. — Threats on social media had several schools in St. Paul on alert Thursday, with at least two schools closing their doors for the day.
Out of precaution, Community School of Excellence and Hope Community Academy were closed.
A 12-year-old girl who admitted to making the threats was taken into custody Thursday, but has since been released to her family, the St. Paul Police Department said.
"There is no ongoing threat at this time, but we don't know if this is the only person sharing these disturbing messages," the department said.
Police also said the girl did not have "the means or desire to carry out the threat."
The department is still working with the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and the schools to make sure students stay safe.
School was in session Thursday at Hmong College Prep Academy, but there was a police presence on campus as an extra precaution.
Hmong Language and Culture School's lower campus is also aware of the threats and is investigating. Leaders there say parents who decide to keep students at home should contact the school to be excused.
The school day continued as normal at Urban Academy Charter School, but educators there said they're also working with local authorities to ensure the school is safe.
The threat comes a week after a mass shooting at a Georgia high school that killed four people and injured nine others.
Note: This story previously identified the threatened schools as part of St. Paul Public Schools. It has since been updated to remove references to the district.
