Heightened police presence at Kea‘au Middle School following threat to campus over social media

Hawai‘i Island police are on campus at Kea‘au Middle School today after staff reported to officers an anonymous threat made toward the school over social media.

On Monday at 9:27 p.m., Puna patrol officers received a call from a school official reporting that a concerned parent had informed them of a threatening social media message from an unknown person.

The identification of the suspect and origin of the message has not been determined. Detectives with the Area I Juvenile Aid Section have initiated a first-degree terroristic threatening investigation.

“Hawai‘i Police Department is taking this opportunity to remind the public that threats made toward any school are taken very seriously by law enforcement,” officials stated in a press release this morning.

Police ask anyone who may have information regarding this incident to call the department’s non-emergency line at 808-935-3311.

Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 808-961-8300 and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000. Crime Stoppers is a volunteer program run by ordinary citizens who want to keep their community safe.