Broward School Threats Haven't Been Found Credible, District Says

Students at Davie's Western High School have been told to leave their backpacks at home for the rest of this week, a sophomore says

Students at Davie's Western High School don't like the chatter circulating their hallways: that somebody will bring a gun to school Friday.

Sophomore Isaac Mercado said his school’s principal made a special announcement that no book bags or backpacks are allowed for the rest of this week.

“When they said no bags would be allowed to school tomorrow and Friday I got kind of worried, ’cause this might be a little legit,” Mercado said.

Said Western student Daniel Dor: “If somebody really is that hurt, if somebody really is bullied, anything is possible, anybody can go to that drastic measure.”

Davie Police spokesman Capt. Dale Engle said he doesn't know who made the threat Monday – or if it was even said.

“From what I understand it was a large group of students about 200 students standing around, and someone overheard that a gun is going to be brought to school,” Engle said.

The massacre in Newtown, Connecticut last week is prompting copycat threats all over the country, including in South Florida.

“Broward District School Police report there have been rumors of violence circulating through social media in several Broward County public schools,” the school district said in a statement Wednesday. “In every case, no substantive information has been found to give credibility to any of these threats.”

The district added that its police take all threats “very seriously” and continue to be vigilant.

Complete Newtown School Shooting Coverage

“I look at all of these things as if my child is in every school, and what do we need to do to make sure our schools are safe as possible, given all the resources at our disposable,” Superintendent of Schools Robert Runcie said.

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