Rock Creek Threat - Police Report Emerges Sparking Questions
Earlier this month, a threat was made against Rock Creek by a former student. The Tahoma School District (TSD) released a statement regarding the matter, explaining that the threat was made against a current staff member and deemed non-credible. However, some parents expressed unease over a disconnect between the district's initial public statement to parents and the police report.
TSD INITIAL PUBLIC STATEMENT:
The district was notified this morning of a threat by a former Rock Creek Elementary School student against a current school staff member. Maple Valley Police Dept. (MVPD) was immediately notified. MVPD met with the individual who issued the threat and their parents at their home, and this was deemed a non-credible threat against Rock Creek or any Tahoma School District campuses. The individual is currently at their home under parental supervision.
School will continue at all district buildings today. There is currently an increased police presence at Rock Creek and there will be additional security there all day.
Thank you to MVPD for their partnership and thorough investigation, and to those who brought the threat to the district’s attention. If you see something, you are always encouraged to say something. If you have additional questions, please contact TSDMessages@TahomaSD.us.
The police report regarding the incident was sent to us by concerned parents. The police report shows that intentions to “shoot up the school” also existed, but were not mentioned in the initial statement provided by the TSD sparking questions.
THE POLICE REPORT:
SUMMARY REPORT NARRATIVE:
The subject was on social media with another juvenile who lives in Kennewick Washington and stated that she wanted to shoot up her former elementary school and a teacher. The other juvenile's aunt saw the messages and notified the Kennewick School District Assistant Superintendent who then called the Maple Valley police. Upon investigation, the threat was made but the subject said they did not have
intentions at this time or the means to follow through with the threat. The subject is also only 12 years old and is no longer a student with the district. The school district and teacher were notified of the threat and this report is for information at this time
SUPPLEMENT REPORT NARRATIVE:
On 3/17/2022, at about 0731 hrs., I was dispatched to contact Jack Anderson by phone. Anderson was the Assistant Superintendent for the Kennewick School District and he received a message from a former employee that the threat was made towards a teacher and a school Maple Valley [sic].
I called Anderson who told me that a former employee, Sharon Morrison-Smith had texted him a message that her niece had told her that another female that she met in a psychological children’s center, Two Rivers Landing, had been messaging her about being a school shooter and wanting to shoot up Rock Creek Elementary and the music teacher. Anderson stated that the subject idolizes the Sandy Hook shooter and believes that the ghost of the shooter lives in her body. Anderson did not have any information on the niece but the subject’s name was [REDACTED]. Anderson gave me the contact information for Morrison-Smith.
I contacted contact Sgt. Stanton notified him of the above information. Sgt. Stanton requested for me to go to the [REDACTED] residence contact to see if [REDACTED] or her parents were home while he contacted the school district.
I drove to the [REDACTED] residence and knocked on the front door. [REDACTED] father answered the door, [REDACTED]. I advised [REDACTED] the reason I was there and [REDACTED] stated that [REDACTED] was still asleep in bed. [REDACTED] told me that [REDACTED] has no access to any firearms and was no longer a student with the Tahoma school district. [REDACTED] also stated that there fully aware of [REDACTED] mental health issues and ideology with her threats towards the school. I had [REDACTED] get for me.
When [REDACTED] came downstairs, I asked her did she know I was there. [REDACTED] stated yeah my friend, Quincy, aunt saw some message she had sent her friend. [REDACTED] stated that she told Quincy that she wanted to shoot up Rock Creek Elementary and her former teacher, Mr. Schreiner. I asked [REDACTED] if she still wanted to follow through with her threats and she stated, “No, not at this time because I can’t.” I asked [REDACTED] to further explain and she stated, “I said it over two days ago and I don’t have the feeling to do it right now or the means.” [REDACTED] confirmed that she was still only 12 years old and I informed her that the statements that she makes to others can lead to criminal offenses.
I spoke to [REDACTED] parents [REDACTED] and [REDACTED] privately. [REDACTED] told me that she had overheard [REDACTED] speaking with Quincy the other night and they were planning on how to get back to Two Rivers Landing so that they can have a sleepover together. [REDACTED] said she believes [REDACTED] thinks that this incident would lead to her being transported to the hospital so that she could have the planned “sleepover” with Quincy. I advised the [REDACTED] at this point there were no police actions necessary due to [REDACTED] age but if they felt to take [REDACTED] back to Children’s Hospital as they did in January it would be up to them.
Sgt. Stanton requested me to fill out a trespass warning letter for [REDACTED] for Rock Creek Elementary. [REDACTED] signed the form and was provided a copy.
I left the [REDACTED] residence and contacted Morrison-Smith by phone. Morrison-Smith did not want to give me any information on her niece but stated that her niece was a troubled youth and had been at the youth facility with [REDACTED]. Morrison-Smith stated that her niece talked to her about what [REDACTED] had said on social media and was concerned. Morrison-Smith said she relayed the only information she had to Anderson. Morrison-Smith stated that she did not have any proof of the conversation between her niece and [REDACTED] but stated she would try to get me the information if she could get it from her niece.
Throughout the day I and other Maple Valley Officers drove through and parked at Rock Creek Elementary.
Use arrows or thumbnail images to navigate through the police report.
These conflicting statements rightfully caused many to follow up with the district for more information. The district addressed these concerns in a letter to parents last night in an effort to clarify the situation.
TSD FOLLOW UP RESPONSE
We have heard from families who have continued questions and concerns regarding the March 17 threat. We have followed up with Maple Valley Police Dept. (MVPD) Sgt. Cory Stanton, who we were in continued communication with on the day of the threat, and we want to provide you additional clarification.
On the morning of March 17, TSD and police were both contacted by someone from a different school district. That person had heard from a former employee of their district, who heard from a family member, who said someone the family member knows messaged them a threat involving Rock Creek Elementary and a staff member.
The information police were initially provided was vague and from a 4th party, but they take all potential threats against our schools seriously and immediately started their investigation. As we shared previously, police met with the suspect and their family that morning. After connecting with the family, police concluded that the suspect’s ideation was directed at the staff member and not the entire school, and that the threat was not credible, which they relayed to our district office. We communicated that information quickly to families before the police report was written, and included that the threat was specific to a staff member. However, because a possible threat against the school was communicated to police, that is what was documented in the police report later that day.
MVPD still believes that our schools are safe and that this was a non-credible threat. On the day of the threat, Superintendent Hanson requested additional police presence and security at Rock Creek as an added precaution. We trust the information that our law enforcement provides, but we will always utilize the resources available to us if there is a threat involving our schools, even when it is deemed non-credible.
Please send me a message if you have additional questions.
Thank you,
AJ Garcia
Public Relations Director
Tahoma School District
Tahoma Parents thanks the MVPD for ensuring the safety of the community by taking the threat seriously and providing extra patrols to Rock Creek Elementary during the event.
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