35 Replies to "WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: WSHS threats investigated"

• KJ May 8, 2023 (1:07 pm)

  Thank you wshs for notifying families before their kids came home later with the info! An early morning text and email an hour before school started was much appreciated!

• Admiral Mom May 8, 2023 (1:33 pm)

  My kid forwarded the post that generated this – it is a veiled threat so I am very grateful for the district response to this. SPS and SPD had come into action early this morning. Student – a Senior – is being given the care he needs.

  • Barbara May 8, 2023 (2:16 pm)

    I was notified today around 12:30pm that the Senior in question showed up to a Freshman class and approached the teacher and asked if they needed help. They were told to leave and then locked the classroom door. 

    • Admiral Mom May 8, 2023 (2:32 pm)

      Principal says:The most recent update is that the person who made the threats is receiving care now and we don’t believe the threats are credible.and then said student shows up at a random classroom?!?!SPS – can we trust you?!?!?

    • Samantha Witt May 8, 2023 (2:35 pm)

      My daughter messaged me that a boy came into her class today and was acting very strangely. She and I are both extremely concerned. There has been no communication from the school about a lockdown but this is deeply concerning. 

      • Julie Fein May 8, 2023 (6:11 pm)

        My son came home and told me the same thing. His Freshman World History class – you daughter’s?  I’m pretty confused since the principal didn’t mention anything about the student coming to school after lunchtime.  Not sure if it’s rumor mill or what. 

    • whataboutthecreedance May 8, 2023 (3:13 pm)

      Holy crap.

    • Soccer Dad May 8, 2023 (3:40 pm)

      I do not think that is possible.The student is in the hospital under treatment.  The student was not at the school today.  

      • Vicky May 8, 2023 (5:38 pm)

        My son saw the kid at school today. This is after the security office told me he would be kept home today. I am also confused.

• Soccer dad May 8, 2023 (2:21 pm)

  Wish they would have let the students and families know earlier.  We would like to have time to talk with our students before they head to class about their thoughts and concerns.Classes were very lightly attended today.  

  • R May 8, 2023 (3:29 pm)

    The notification went out as early as possible. Please be grateful it was as early as it was. 

    • Adam May 8, 2023 (7:39 pm)

      Everything in this story refutes the idea, with facts, that notice was given as early as possible. 

  • Georgina May 9, 2023 (11:07 am)

    I got the warning at 8:01 a.m.

• WS HS concerned parent May 8, 2023 (3:25 pm)

  To bring light to this situation. I sent this notice the parents received this morning to WS blog to be documented. I was notified by my student of a suspicious individual entering classrooms at 1307 PST. They seemed agitated and lost and even told a teacher they weren’t supposed to be there. I called 911 to report this and was yelled at by the dispatcher who took my incident report.  The suspicious individual then went to another class room and asked where they could find the library. I was then sent an image of an unknown individual who seemed to be carrying an unknown device on their hip area and going down the hallways. The students are terrified and no shut down has been ordered. I hope they make it out safe today and everyday.  West Seattle HS needs to be held accountable. 

  • Vee May 8, 2023 (4:03 pm)

    I wish people wouldn’t say things when they dont have all the facts and its hearsay,  it just makes matters worse and frightens students when you are an alarmist and act like you have all the facts and know more than those in charge 

    • k May 8, 2023 (7:07 pm)

      i witnessed this as a west seattle student that person is correct this isn’t “hearsay” please stop saying it is so the school can look into it for our safety 

  • KW May 8, 2023 (4:08 pm)

    Thank you for sharing.  This is so concerning!  

  • Anne May 8, 2023 (4:56 pm)

    Struggling to understand any of what you said. 

    • Adam May 8, 2023 (7:41 pm)

      That appears to be a comprehension issue. It reads well-enough for me to get what’s happening. Don’t just come on here to take shots. This is an issue where we should get info and parse it all. Not get petty with those you don’t align with. 

• Hsmith May 8, 2023 (6:05 pm)

  Parents need clarity about this. Was the student in question on campus today or not??

  • Admiral Mom May 8, 2023 (6:34 pm)

    He was not. It was a different student. It got confusing but an update was just sent to community:May 8, 2023Dear West Seattle High School community,Thank you for your patience today. I appreciate the messages and questions families have sent me expressing their concern over the social media posts by a student this weekend. The posts were reported to the Seattle Police Department and district safety and security team. Both Seattle Police Department and district Safety and Security team investigated this incident and have determined it was not a credible threat. West Seattle High School students and staff were not in harm’s way. Our school day was not affected, and we followed our standard schedule.The student involved is in need of additional care. They are receiving that support. I appreciate your patience and respect for that individual’s privacy. I take the safety of West Seattle students and staff very seriously. I understand any talk of violence is cause for concern. There were rumors about a continued threat during the school day today. These rumors have been investigated and are not substantiated.If students are feeling the weight of stress, our school has many resources that can provide support. Our Teen Health Center, school counselors or the district’s Health Services team are all available. Additionally, Crisis Connectionsprovides a 24-hour crisis line at 866-427-4747. Students can also access Teen Link at 866-833-6546. I am proud of how staff and students responded to this incident. Thank you to the individuals who alerted us to the posts. If you have questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me.Sincerely,Principal Vance

• Pinto May 8, 2023 (6:47 pm)

  Principal Vance sent a third update just now.” There were rumors about a continued threat during the school day today.  These rumors have been investigated and are not substantiated.”

• CONCERNED May 8, 2023 (6:50 pm)

  Would be great to get clarity on this. WS high, can you let us know if this kid is hospitalized, in custody, etc…or still walking around West Seattle posing a threat? 

• Ws mom May 8, 2023 (7:00 pm)

  Why is the school protecting this kid, they owe parents an explanation and said student should be expelled per SPS rules. They were on campus today after threats were made… where are the parents?!?!?!

  • CAM May 8, 2023 (9:14 pm)

    That means someone called 911, it doesn’t mean it was substantiated. People in this comment section have reported calling 911 to make this report which would explain these tweets. It doesn’t prove it happened. 

• k May 8, 2023 (7:04 pm)

  as someone we goes to west seattle i can say these are not “rumors” or “theory’s” this boy walked in my class room and he is a freshman he also walked in my  friends classroom asking weird questions he looked like he had a weapon or something concealed in his shirt it was bulging and very clear because he had on a white tee multiple people saw him so there are not rumors and stop saying they are for our safety please the school hasn’t done anything and didn’t even go on lockdown i expect more and i expect my school to care for my safety i had a panic attack and left school along with other people so this is all true also to people saying “the kid is getting help” we do not know if this is true west seattle could be saying this and we do not know if the kid was a senior who made these threats the school cannot confirm who the kid was so if your saying “it’s a senior” that’s a rumor i hope west seattle send a email or looks into this kid

  • Admiral Mom May 8, 2023 (7:47 pm)

    K, I am  truly sorry you feel unsafe and like nothing is being done. I can tell you the student with the original threat/social media post IS a senior and that they are getting help. I also can tell you the kid wondering/coming into classrooms is a second student that was struggling today. There is a lot to be done for our students and if you and your classmates are not feeling safe, we need to do better by you. Please speak up and reach out to your teachers and administrators. I know it’s not easy but your well-being is paramount. Learning can only happen when our youth feels safe 

• SLJ May 8, 2023 (9:03 pm)

  I wish the rumors would stop. The student who made the initial threat was NOT at school today. And we don’t know specifics about the person because he is a minor and the school is not allowed (and shouldn’t) divulge any information other than to say that he is not a threat now. It sounds like there was a second student acting strange today, which isn’t good, but it was not the same person. And he didn’t have a weapon, as the school investigated and determined. I’m so sorry if kids don’t feel safe. My kids are at WSHS and were fine at school today, but they didn’t hear any of the rumors about the original kid being at school, or someone with a weapon. Please stop with the rumors, it makes it worse. And why would anyone assume the school was lying about the student getting help and not being at school? SPS is far from perfect, but I have no doubt the school is concerned about safety and isn’t lying about what happened. I’m sure there’s a lot we don’t know, but that’s how it works with children.

• High School Teacher May 8, 2023 (9:30 pm)

  As a high school teacher (not at WSHS), it feels dismaying to read all of these comments by adults with second hand information.  In our classrooms we talk to our students about not spreading information that is second hand. We talk to our students about not sharing things we don’t always know on social media. We talk to our students about how this can contribute to misinformation being spread. We talk to our students about the fact that sometimes all information cannot be shared with the public because of privacy issues. I think it’s important to remember that there are a lot of factors that go into an investigation at a school, not all of which we are privy to. We all want answers about safety…and quickly. Sometimes we have to trust the process and hope that folks involved are doing the best they can to keep all of us safe. Of course, there are missteps. But usually, things turn out okay. Please stop spreading information when we don’t know all the facts. Adults have a responsibility to be models for our kids. 

• NotOnHolden May 9, 2023 (6:12 am)

  I don’t doubt for one second WSHS and SPS took this seriously and took immediate action.  They contacted me over my kid drawing inappropriate stick figures.  Just because everything isn’t communicated like a stock ticker on a news channel doesn’t mean action isn’t being taken.They say the kid is getting the services or care they need and I certainly hope so since there is a massive dearth of these services.  I want all of the parents here to go try to find a new therapist for your teen and let me know how many aren’t taking new clients of have waitlists.  

• WSHS Student May 9, 2023 (9:08 am)

  This has been an awful week for Seattle Public Schools and I hope soon we’ll be able to go to school without being fearful of what will happen during the school day. And for everyone reposting second hand information, why would you do that without being in the building??? You’re just fear mongering and spreading misinformation. That does no good for anyone. If anything like that was happening I can assure you that admin and our security team is more than capable of handling that. Stop spreading false information and scaring kids more then we’re already scared.

• Soccer dad May 9, 2023 (10:32 am)

  West Seattle High School is currently on a shelter in Place.No information on why.

  • WSB May 9, 2023 (10:59 am)

    As noted elsewhere, this is because of police activity nearby – a robbery was reported, we’re still trying to get details – NOT a school situation.

• Melissa Westbrook May 9, 2023 (2:59 pm)

  “But usually, things turn out okay.”In this time and place in the U.S., I’m not sure that is true. Maybe parents do have the right to be worried.

  • High School Teacher May 9, 2023 (4:51 pm)

    @ Melissa- Definitely! Maybe I misspoke. We are all worried. What I meant most was that second hand information often contributes to the worry. I am hoping we all stay safe. <3 

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