Brenner: No Danger Found After Rumors and a Threatening Message, Rumor About a Gun in School Is False

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Darien High School DHS 9-13-16

Darien High School sign at the Noroton Avenue entrance

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Update, 5:42 p.m.:

Rumors that a gun was at the high school on Friday are false, Schools Superintendent Dan Brenner said in an email to parents and teachers about the two incidents involving a threatening message on Friday and rumors of one on Wednesday.

In part of his 4:38 p.m. email, Brenner said:

It has come to our attention that there was a rumor that a gun was present at school today.   This is absolutely false.  Please be assured that these incidents have been found to have no substance and that there was no threat present at any time.at 4:38 p.m.

Here’s Brenner’s entire message:

Dear School Community,

It has been an unsettling couple of days at Darien High School as a result of two unfounded threatening messages that were reported to the administration.  I understand how upsetting this is to the entire school community.

Our training suggests the best way to manage these situations is to be timely and forthright with information and to immediately dispel any rumors that may be circulating.  With that in mind, I would like to reiterate the following facts:

On Wednesday, several students reported they heard there was a written message in a bathroom that said, “do not come to school on 3/23.”

  • The police, who were at the high school, investigated and assured us that DHS was safe; and,
  • Following our internal protocol, we emailed parents about the incident.

This afternoon, a student reported that the following statement was written on a bathroom wall, “gonna shoot the school per. 6. B ready.”

  • DHS administration identified the bathroom with the writing on the wall;
  • Following our protocol, the school was locked down;
  • Police immediately responded; and,
  • The school remained in lockdown for 22 minutes, until we were assured by the police that the school was safe and we could return to a typical school schedule.

It has come to our attention that there was a rumor that a gun was present at school today.   This is absolutely false.  Please be assured that these incidents have been found to have no substance and that there was no threat present at any time.

Research suggests that our communication home and to the press may prompt “copycat” behaviors.  While this appears to be the case today, we always take each case seriously and act accordingly.

We are continuing our investigation in collaboration with the Darien Police Department to identity the person or persons who were responsible for these incidents.  I can assure you that once identified, we will discipline the individual(s) to the full extent of education and criminal law.

Once again, there is no more important mission for a school district than to keep our school community safe.  Please know we will do everything in our power to ensure a safe and secure school environment.

Sincerely,

Dan Brenner, Ph.D

Original article: 1:41 p.m.: 

Lockdown for DHS After Actual Threat in a Bathroom, Later Determined False

Darien High School was put on lockdown for a while on Friday until administrators and police determined that a threatening message found in a bathroom stall was unfounded, and the school day resumed, the high school announced.

At about 12:30 p.m., according to a news release from the school, a message was found in a boy’s bathroom stall saying, “gonna shoot the school per 6. B ready.”

Darien police were immediately notified, the lockdown drill was started to secure the building, and police evaluated the situation.

“Working with the Police Department the threat was deemed unfounded and we have returned the students to class and will conclude a normal school day,” the news release said (full text below).

On Wednesday, there was a rumor in the school that a threatening message had been left on a boy’s bathroom wall, but school officials determined that there wasn’t any threat on any boys bathroom wall in the school.

Full Text of News Release

Here’s the complete news release, sent out at 12:58 p.m.:

Today, Friday, March 24, 2017 at approximately 12:30 p.m. a message was found in a stall of a boys bathroom reading “gonna shoot the school per 6. B ready”. The administration immediately contacted the Darien Police Department.

We initiated a lockdown drill to secure the building and allow the police an opportunity to evaluate the situation.

Working with the Police Department the threat was deemed unfounded and we have returned the students to class and will conclude a normal school day.

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