Havre Middle School shut down Tuesday after threat found

Havre Middle School was shut down and the building evacuated Tuesday after graffiti was found on a wall in the school threatening a shooting that day at the school, less than four weeks after a shooting threat was found at Havre High School.

Havre Public Schools said the graffiti was reported at 12:44 p.m. and the district informed the Havre Police Department, which dispatched officers to investigate.

Following the district's policies, the school initially was put in a hold-in-place status, meaning all students had to return to classrooms and movement in the building was kept to a minimum, then the school was ordered evacuated and a sweep inspection of the building was conducted.

The district later announced, about 2:20 p.m., that the school was locked and all classes and activities canceled for the day and no one would be allowed in the school.

The district and Havre police announced after 6 p.m. that classes would be held today with increased police presence throughout the district and an increased focus on security.

Havre police and the district said officers and district personnel are investigating Tuesday's threat including viewing video surveillance, interviewing witnesses and staff members collaborating with the investigators.

"As recent events have taught all of us, any threats of harm need to be taken seriously and should be promptly reported to the appropriate authorities," the district said in a statement. "We encourage you, your children and students to immediately report any threats of harm to local law enforcement and/or any district official immediately"

The police department asked in a statement about the incident that anyone with information about the threat contact the Havre Police Department at 265-4361, Hill County Sheriff's Office at 265-2512 or Crimestoppers at 265-4444.

Schools were placed under increased law enforcement presence and a high-security status after graffiti threatening a shooting at Havre High School was found in a boys bathroom Feb. 22.

That incident and others throughout the state with threats of violence with varying credibility followed the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., the previous week on Feb. 14 in which 17 people at the school were killed.

Tuesday's threat was discovered the same day that another school shooting occurred in Great Mills, Maryland, in which a school resource officer shot and killed a 17-year-old who shot a 16-year-old girl and 14-year-old boy.