ELKHART, Ind. — Police and school officials in two northern Indiana counties are boosting security at local schools following an anonymous threat warning that 20 schoolchildren would be killed next week.
Lt. Matthew Blank of the St. Joseph County Police Department said Tuesday that the threat targeted five schools in Elkhart and St. Joseph counties. It was discovered in mid-January in Elkhart County and warned that students would be hurt April 15.
Blank declined to detail at a Tuesday news conference the specifics of how the threat was made, but he compared it to a scribble on a bathroom stall.
The Elkhart Truth reports that Elkhart city police said the threat did not mention specific schools, just schools in the two counties. City police said in a statement that officers are working with Elkhart Community Schools and have been in contact with private schools in Elkhart.
Elkhart County Sheriff Brad Rogers said his office would increase its presence at area schools and was strategically planning deputies' responses to the anonymous threat.
Doug Hasler, executive director of support services for Elkhart Community Schools, said the district is taking the threat seriously, particularly in light of December's killing of 20 children and six educators at a Connecticut elementary school.
"This has our attention, as I think is true for every school in Elkhart County," he said.
Phyllis Clark, who was picking up her granddaughter Tuesday at Woodland Elementary, said the youngster will not be going to school Monday because of concerns about the threat.
"Her mom doesn't plan on sending her to school on Monday," Clark said. "It's so sad."
But Amanda Batts and Amber Cleveland, who arrived together Tuesday at Woodland Elementary to pick up their children, said they're not worried about the threat.
Cleveland said she's spoken with her second-grade daughter about the drills the school has the youngsters do for different threatening situations.
"They know where they're supposed to be if something happens," she said.
