Federal officials have been notified about a threat made via social media that caused Steubenville City Schools to be placed under a precautionary lockdown for about one and a half hours on Tuesday.
Superintendent Mike McVey said that all district schools were put on lockdown when police notified him that a student in the district found a Facebook post with a non-specific shooting-type threat.
McVey said he was informed by police about the threat around 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday. The district then initiated the lockdown and parents received a message via the district's automated phone system.
Students were not dismissed from school and remained at their schools during the precautionary lockdown. During that time, police investigated and searched all buildings in the district.
The threat was investigated and cleared around 10 a.m., after police went to the student's house to investigate what he found on Facebook. Police determined that the threat was not credible, which allowed the district to lift the lockdown.
Another phone call through the district's system informed parents that the lockdown was lifted because the threat was "non-viable." The message said that parents who wanted to pick up their children from school were permitted to do so after signing the students out.
McVey said the precautionary lockdown was the first one the district has ever had. The lockdown included taking the measure of keeping lights turned off and keeping people away from windows in schools.
McVey said because of the attention the district is receiving because of a rape investigation that has received national attention, on Monday the district started having additional security guards stationed at each school until further notice.
"Safety is our first concern, so it's very disturbing. We're almost collateral damage from what incidents are going on around here. We have to stay positive. We have beefed up our security. We are aware of the procedures and protocol in doing our drills. When you start affecting young children's lives, it's gone a little too far," McVey said.
Steubenville Police Chief Bill McCafferty said that message said if teens joking on video about the alleged rape were not brought to a certain location, the person or persons making the threat would begin shooting.
McCafferty said the threat was made by a third-party group. McCafferty said he is not sure if that group is linked to the group Anonymous. In late December, Anonymous hacked a popular fan website for Steubenville Big Red sports that is not affiliated with the school district.
Jefferson County Sheriff Fred Abdalla said Tuesday's threat was terroristic in nature and whoever made the threat will face federal charges. Abdalla said local officials have been in touch with proper authorities, including the Department of Homeland Security.
Abdalla said, "I think whoever made that threat today, we're going to find out who they are. Whoever that was, I think it was right here local. Some character again taking advantage of the situation, wanting to blame it on this group Anonymous. When is it going to end?"
Tuesday morning at Harding Middle School, while the lockdown was still in place, police were at the school along with Jefferson Security workers and McVey. As the morning went on, more and more parents showed up to pick up their children, some in tears, saying they were concerned about their kids' safety.
Parents who spoke with NEWS9 on Tuesday said it is sad to see innocent children being affected.
"You wouldn't understand how scary it is to bring someone into this world and have to sit out here and worry about whether they are going to come out of that building safe or shot. It's very scary," said Georgeanne Clark.
Stay with NEWS9, WTOV9.com and WTOV9 Mobile for continuing coverage as details become available.
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