LEXINGTON, Ohio — A 17-year-old Lexington student was a source of concern at Lexington High School on Friday after making disturbing comments on social media.
“We have a student that’s been posting really inappropriate things on his Facebook page, but not necessarily threatening anybody. He hasn’t made any actual threats directed at somebody, or the school in general, to my knowledge. The police are monitoring his Facebook page, Superintendent Mike Ziegelhofer said.
“Today, the rumors went around that he’s been on Twitter and he’s been making threatening comments about shooting up the assembly today or the dance tomorrow night.”
Ziegelhofer said the student has been taken into custody and is in the Richland County Juvenile Detention Center.
A number of parents removed their children from the school Friday morning. “There are some concerned parents coming to take their kids home today out of concern for their safety, which we certainly understand and they have every right to do,” Ziegelhofer said.
Ziegelhofer said the school did not go into lockdown Friday; however, he noted, “There are no unlocked entrances to our building–you have to buzz in. As far as lockdown meaning they’re in their rooms and they’re not changing classes or that kind of thing, no. The school day is going on as normal.”
Lexington police will remain through the day at the high school and will be at the home football game tonight and homecoming dance tomorrow, Ziegelhofer said. The homecoming assembly, which was originally scheduled for Friday afternoon, has been postponed. A ceremony will be held prior to the game.
“There is police presence in our building today. There has been a presence in our building at various times throughout the morning and days this past week. We’re just trying to do everything we can to make sure that everybody’s as safe as they can possibly be,” Ziegelhofer said.
Ziegelhofer said administration is in the process of expelling the student and that he was removed from the school last Thursday. “He’s not going to be back at our school, he said.
“He posted some things about some of the administrators that were completely inappropriate and vulgar, and he’s also got a list of disciplinary [items]. The most major one was marijuana possession.”
