Police said they’re stepping up their presence at Big Island schools today in response to a social media threat made Thursday to the Hilo Intermediate School Campus.
According to a letter sent to parents and guardians Thursday by Principal Heather Dansdill, a follow-up post made a few hours later retracted the threat and said it is a joke.
“Out of an abundance of caution, additional department security and (Hawaii Police Department) officers will be present on campus (today). School will be open and there will be no change in schedule.”
Honolulu police increased their presence at Pearl City High School and Momilani Elementary School in Pearl City, Oahu, Thursday morning after a social media threat.
The FBI is also investigating that threat and the DOE requested that parents and students not re-post social media threats.
Terroristic threatening is a crime and first-degree terroristic threatening is a Class C felony punishable by up to five years in prison.