16-year-old girl accused of posting online threat that closed two Puyallup schools

PUYALLUP, Wash. -- A 16-year old girl is under arrest, accused of posting an online threat that led to the closing of two Puyallup schools Tuesday.

Police say they believe her motive was just trying to get out of going to school.

Classes will resume Wednesday morning at Emerald Ridge High School and Glacier View Junior High.



“The threats against Emerald Ridge High School were credible and substantiated,” said Dr. Timothy Yeomans, Puyallup School District’s superintendent.

According to Puyallup Police, a post discovered on ASKfm in Ireland that said they were tired of being called "a white cracker" at Emerald Ridge High School and threatened to shoot and blow up the school with what the poster called racist kids and dumb teachers.



Those who live nearby say they support the school district’s decision to close schools.

“In this day and age, you can’t take this un-seriously, too many people are getting shot and killed and blown up,” said Norm Shattuck, who lives nearby.

They also say this threat offers a teachable moment parents can have with their kids about the power of social media.

“When it gets to the point that you’re using it as a weapon, that’s when everything goes bad,” said Shattuck.

Jill Goetz, with Savvy Parents, Safe Kids, agrees. It’s why she suggests open communication with your children.

“We want to encourage our kids to say hey, if you see something online that is inappropriate or scary then tell a safe adult,” said Goetz. “At the same time, we want to be talking to our tweens and teens that they aren’t the ones making those inappropriate posts.”

As for the teenage suspect, police say she is facing charges of felony threats. They believe she acted alone and a search warrant turned up no weapons in the house.