Alamogordo NM
5-10-2023 10:04pm

Social Media Threat to Alamogordo Public Schools

The Alamogordo public schools released the following statement…

“Alamogordo Public Schools has been made aware of an anonymous shooting threat made on social media by an individual towards Alamogordo High School, Chaparral Middle School & Mountain View Middle School for Thursday, May 11.

The threat has been reported to the Alamogordo Police Department and Otero County Sheriff's Office, New Mexico, it is under investigation, and it cannot be determined that the threat is credible at this time.

APS is continuing to monitor the situation with local law enforcement and will provide updates as they become available.

Any persons with information please contact the Alamogordo Police Department at 575-439-4300.”

The Alamogordo Police Department released a statement that a 14 year old male is being referred to Juvenile Probation as a result of multiple investigations.

This threat follows  a Snapchat threat that was circulating NOT specific to Alamogordo Public Schools.

The Alamogordo Public School system leadership issued a release addressing the Snapchat threat claiming shootings and bombings would be carried out on Wednesday, May 10 at unspecified schools in unspecified cities.

Although the threats did not mention Alamogordo, they were reaching local Snapchat users.

The Alamogordo Police Department and Otero County Sheriff’s Department were made aware of the threats and asked anyone with information to contact them at 575-439-4300.

Again, there is currently no evidence to substantiate an actual threat existed from the Snapchat incident however the Alamogordo Public Schools had an increased police presence Wednesday as a precaution and it will continue on Thursday given the more specific local threat.

Alamogordo school leaders are diligently monitoring student communications and social media posts along with law enforcement to ensure the safety and security of student and staff.

School threats are not unique to Alamogordo. 

A nationwide epidemic of violent school threats is breeding fear, anxiety and frustration for educators, children and parents. While the vast majority of these threats are anonymous and turn out to be hoaxes, they have to be investigated and taken seriously. Hundreds of schools are losing classroom teaching time, police are wasting resources, children are frightened, and parents are angry and alarmed.

“School threats are a fast growing problem. They send fear and panic through a community” says Ken Trump, President of National School Safety and Security Services, who directed a new study of school threats across the country.

The good news is that school and police officials are getting much better at preventing high-profile tragedies. The bad news is that we will never be 100% successful because we are dealing with human behavior.

Adult behavior is difficult to predict and no one can do it with 100% certainty. Youth behavior is even more difficult to predict. Adolescent behavior is, by its nature, experimental and fluctuating making it even trickier. 

National School Safety and Security Services is tracking more and more school incidents across the nation where rumors have disrupted schools and have resulted in dramatic declines in school attendance and even school closures. The issues of text messaging in particular, and cell phones in general, were credited with often creating more anxiety and panic than any actual threats or incidents that may have triggered the rumors.

A part of the solution is diligence on the part of parents. Parents talk to children, communicate any information or concerns to school officials and the authorities. If a child is concerned with the behaviors or comments of others then report it. Safety and security is everyone’s responsibility. 

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