Police react to unsubstantiated threat at Riverside
By Terry Murry on Wednesday, December 8th, 2021 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
BOARDMAN – Boardman Police Chief Rick Stokoe reports his officers are continuing to investigate an unsubstantiated threat of a school shooting that police became aware of Tuesday night. Stokoe said the investigation began about 7:30 p.m. and still continues.
“We know who the suspect is and we’ve talked to him and his parents,” Stokoe said. “I want to stress that the threat is unsubstantiated. We have already interviewed well over 50 students.”
Stokoe said the suspect is not at school, and students are sheltering in place. In an interview at around 11 a.m. today (Wednesday) he said he expected to lift the shelter order within an hour.
The chief said that the threat stemmed from a statement that might have been made while students were playing a school active shooter computer game. He acknowledged that the actions taken by law enforcement, including a heavy police presence at school this morning, may have been construed as an overreaction.
“I’d rather be safe than sorry,” Stokoe said.
