HOLLAND (WHTC-AM/FM) — Parents of West Ottawa High School students have gotten a third message from district officials this morning — this time dispelling rumors involving a threat posted on the social-media outlet Snapchat.
Parent Anita Hall-Dokman shared the text message she received from the school:
“Last evening, rumors began circulating regarding another threat toward the school today. The West Ottawa administration immediately worked with the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Department and began a full investigation into each of the rumors.
“Please know that the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Department completed the investigation and found all claims to be unfounded, and assured us that there is no threat toward the school today. We look forward to having a great Friday at WOHS, and thank our students, staff and parents for their cooperation and support during yesterday’s incident.”
Hall-Dokman went on to say, in a message sent to WHTC’s Facebook page, “My child decided to go to school at 6 am this morning to support WOHS and ‘not to be scared of bullies who are spreading fear behind a keyboard on social media,’ — her words, not mine.
“I am proud of her and thankful to the security staff and deputies at WO HS,” Hall-Dokman wrote, “My child was the last one to speak to this gun carrying student and was only notified of what he did after detectives talked to her after the lockdown. She was in shock, since it was her other friend who saw the video of the gun and ran to alert security, at the same time she was talking to this gun-carrying student, before he left to go to the other HS building.”
She said her daughter heard the teen was arrested just about 10 minutes later, between the two high school buildings.
During and just after yesterday’s incident, rumors flew around on social media, with some students stepping in an urging others to remain calm and not post unconfirmed information.
