A threat against Great Bend High School by a GBHS student posted to the mobile photo-sharing Instagram app Monday night is being addressed, according to a statement from Unified School District 428 Superintendent Brad Reed. Great Bend Police officers were able to locate the student and take him into custody prior to the start of the school day Tuesday. 

“The administration is confident that there is no imminent danger to students or staff and has recommended that school continue today as planned,” Reed said. Nonetheless, there will be additional police officers at the high school as a precaution.

The preliminary information they obtained in their investigation led officers to believe that the student acted alone in producing the writings, Great Bend Police Chief Cliff Couch said. Due to this information and the fact that the student was in police custody, school was not cancelled. 

“However, out of an abundance of caution, extra officers were stationed at the High School to provide security as students came to school,” the chief said. Officials from the School District and Police Department stayed in constant communication throughout the event in order to ensure that the safety of students was not compromised.

Couch said it was brought to the attention of the Great Bend Police Department that a student at the High School had posted disturbing writings on a social media account, Police Chief Cliff Couch said. The writings contained some violent references directed toward fellow students, as well as a reference to shooting responding police officers.  It was titled “Skool Shooter” and appeared to be written in the form of a song or poem.  

A copy of the posting obtained by the Great Bend Tribune shows a photo of a profanity-laden hand-written note. The student indicated plans to “walk in the front starting to shoot the place up” and “torture and whip” victims.

The student also noted plans to shoot at police.  

School officials said this appears to be an isolated incident. But, in this day and age, all such threats must be taken seriously.

The student who allegedly produced the concerning writings was taken into protective custody to be evaluated by mental health professionals, Couch said. The Police Department’s investigation is still ongoing, so it is unknown at this time what legal action will be taken against the individual.  

Due to state law, the Police Department does not release the names of juvenile suspects.

“I’m thankful that so many people came forward to make law enforcement and the school aware of this disturbing post,” Couch said. “Nothing is more important to us than keeping our kids safe, but we can’t do that alone. It’s a community wide effort.”