Threats in Texas school district: Several arrests

AUSTIN, Texas — Editor's Note: For an update on the ongoing social media threats against Central Texas schools, click here. For more information on the Man arrested for threatening behavior at Austin ISD elementary school, click here.

Several local law enforcement agencies have taken suspects into custody after threats were made on social media in numerous school districts in Central Texas this week.

A man was arrested in connection with a threat against an Austin elementary school, and students were taken into custody in connection with threats against other districts.

There is an increased police presence at Hill Elementary School in northwest Austin Friday morning after police arrested a 29-year-old man in connection with a threat to the campus Thursday evening.

The Austin Police Department (APD) confirmed that a family member of the man notified them of his threat to the school, and an affidavit obtained by KVUE states that the man suffers from schizophrenia and is experiencing delusions. Jail records indicate that he is charged with making a terroristic threat and is being held on $100,000 bail.

In an email to Hill Elementary families, the principal said Austin ISD police officers will be on campus and in the surrounding area during the school day Friday. Additionally, there will be a special meeting at 7:45 a.m. Monday in the school library to discuss campus safety protocols.

Austin ISD said there is no threat to Hill Elementary.

In a letter to parents Friday morning, Marble Falls ISD said over the past two weeks, “…schools and districts across the state [have been] “They have to deal with rumors and threats on social media,” including at Marble Falls ISD.

On Thursday evening, the district said it had been notified of a new social media threat affecting Marble Falls ISD and other districts. Meanwhile, both Blanco and Llano ISD said officials were investigating a threat circulating on social media regarding possible violence at schools in Johnson City, Marble Falls, Llano and Blanco.

Blanco ISD said in an update late Thursday night that “the person responsible for the threatening post is in custody and does not pose a threat.” In the Friday morning email, Marble Falls ISD said “a student has been taken into custody for investigation.”

Marble Falls, Blanco and Llano ISDs said they had increased police presence on their campuses in response to the threats.

RELATED: 1 person taken into custody after Llano ISD threatened on social media

A sixth-grader at Hays CISD is facing legal consequences after district officials say he helped spread a false shooting threat on social media.

Officials at Hays CISD began investigating the threats Wednesday night. The middle school student was later arrested for allegedly spreading a threat that specifically mentioned Simon Middle School. District leaders said they are looking into the possibility that additional students were involved in the threats that mentioned that campus.

RELATED: Sixth-grader faces charges as Central Texas school districts plagued by social media threats

Meanwhile, students in Liberty Hill ISD reported threatening images to a police officer on campus. Within minutes, the district found a “Liberty School” mentioned on a long list of schools in a social media post where a student allegedly threatened to attack. Then the district learned the school was actually in Georgia.

In addition to the districts already mentioned, Manor and Hutto ISDs also sent social media threat notices to parents on Thursday. On Friday, Cedar Park police said they were aware of a social media post reporting a shooting at Cedar Park High/Vista Ridge, but said there was no active shooting at either campus.

Despite varying sources, school districts must take every threat seriously.

“Unfortunately, in today’s society we live in, we take every threat seriously until we can prove it is not,” said Liberty Hill ISD Police Chief Chris Rybarski.

Officials from several districts, including Liberty Hill ISD, said students who make or spread threats will be held accountable, regardless of whether the threats turn out to be false.

“Our position is that if there is a threat to our campus or our district, we will prosecute. We will file charges and make arrests,” Rybarski said.

Rybarski said that to avoid being charged with spreading threats, if parents show their children something that could be perceived as a threat, they should immediately notify police and the school.