Indiana schools see a rush of reported gun threats after Florida mass shooting

Indiana high schools saw a rush of reported gun threats and rumors of violence last week following the deadly mass shooting in Florida.

The state's schools safety director says a "contagion effect" has started in the days since police said 19-year-old Nikolas Cruz walked into Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School with a semiautomatic assault weapon and killed 17 people.

"It's the copycat thing," said Indiana State Police spokesman John Perrine, who said police historically have seen increased threats after mass shootings. "When something is in the news, when something is fresh in peoples' minds, it increases the threats...Even if someone thinks it's a joke, we don’t think it’s funny."

At least 10 Indiana districts have investigated either a real or rumored copycat threat since Feb. 14. At least four people have been arrested as a result, and more arrests could be coming.

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New Albany police have arrested two teens following reports of threatening posts. A 16-year-old was arrested Friday after police said he posted on Snapchat a photo of New Albany High School with the text, "I'll get more than 17."

Police said a 15-year-old student was arrested early Monday morning after posting, "We will blow that b**** up" in reference to Greater Clark County and New Albany Floyd County Schools.

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A 19-year-old was arrested in Muncie on Thursday, The Star Press reported, after police said he posted on Snapchat a photo of himself with a handgun that said "Don't go to school tomorrow." He said it was a "joke," but now faces a preliminary charge of intimidation with a deadly weapon.

Carmel High School, the state's largest with about 5,000 students, and local police continue to investigate threats referencing gun violence made over the weekend. Police said these threats are new and credible following a rumored shooting threat the school assured parents on Thursday was never made.

Initial shooting rumors in Carmel — which the principal said Thursday were spurred in an innocent group text between students — were largely circlulated around Facebook by fearful parents.

"I think we’re all experiencing a lot of anxiety, sadness, concerns about safety," said Jennie Voelker, Community Health Network's clinical director of youth behavioral health services, "And that’s for kids, teens, adults, all of us."

Voelker acknowledged the hightened emotions could be one reason schools are seeing more threats reported. Being exposed to trauma could trigger someone who has experienced trauma to act out, Voelker said.

"People cope with their trauma... when they’re triggered in both healthy and unhealthy ways," she said. "It could be a cry for attention and support, and I don’t mean that in a manipulative way, I mean a real need."

Exposure to a tragedy like a mass shooting, Voelker said, can also cause hypervigilance among parents.

Perrine agreed, saying when a mass shooting happens, it forces people to consider that these situations are possible and therefore does "increase the conversation."

David Woodward, Indiana Department of Education's director of school safety, said dealing with the threats is a "double-edged sword," because police investigating could make the threat seem legitimate and cause parents to worry.

Still, last week he advised schools to prepare for the expected "contagion" and increased reports, and to always take threats seriously and work with local law enforcement.

"No one wants you just to ignore the threat," Woodward said. "I think because of the fact that (the Florida shooting) last week happened, it wouldn’t have mattered if it was legit or not, people were going to be worried about it."

Woodward said, after a conference call with other state school safety leaders that there were "probably 100" copycat threats being investigated nationwide on Monday alone.

USA Today reported Friday that schools in North Carolina, Connecticut, Vermont and New Jersey were among those targeted by threats online, including an image of a masked student holding a gun with the caption, "Round 2 of Florida tomorrow."

Four schools in Warrick County, Ind. were on lockout on Monday, the Courier & Press reported, and not accepting any visitors on school grounds following an anonymous threat posted online. Police ultimately found it to be "not viable."

Evansville police also arrested an 18-year-old on Friday after they say he threatened on Facebook to "shoot up" Central High School, the Courier & Press reported.

Last week police and school officials also investigated rumored threats against Center Grove Community, Lake Central, Rensselaer Central and Loogoottee Community school districts. Each were ultimately declared unfounded and no arrests where made.

Neither Voelker nor Woodward could say when the unease and anxiety may start to fade. Woodward said he remembered continuing to deal with the effects of the Sandy Hook shooting more than a month after it happened in 2012.

Voelker said it's important for both adults and kids to regain a sense of safety and fall back into comforting routines. She suggested limiting younger children's exposure to media coverage of the mass shooting, allowing them to lead conversations about it by asking questions and keeping in mind that they are often "in tune" with their parents' emotions, including fear or stress.

Perrine said he hopes parents will channel their emotions into something positive: Becoming more aware and prepared. State police offer an online active shooter training course for parents, he said, which stresses being vigilant and knowing when to escape, hide or fight.

"There’s still that anger, the heartbreak, the fear, all those emotions still exist," he said. "I want people to … use those emotions to (their) advantage."

Call IndyStar reporter Emma Kate Fittes at (317) 513-7854. Follow her on Facebook and Twitter.

