Snoqualmie Police Investigate Hoax Threat at Mount Si High School, Collaborate with School Officials

On the morning of October 29, 2024, the Snoqualmie Police Department responded to a potential threat reported at Mount Si High School.

A student informed school officials about a message written on a bathroom wall, suggesting a school shooting would take place on Halloween, October 31, 2024.

Snoqualmie Police officers swiftly launched an investigation to assess the threat. Using hallway surveillance footage, investigators were able to identify the students who had accessed the bathroom at the relevant time.

“With the use of hallway surveillance video, we were able to narrow down who had gone into the bathroom,” explained Police Chief Brian Lynch. “Interviews were conducted to determine who had written the message.”

A student was identified as the possible author of the message, and further investigation revealed that the writing was intended as a joke meant to incite fear and disrupt attendance on Halloween.

“School administrators were quick to notify the police about the situation,” Lynch added. “Immediately, parallel investigations were conducted with officers working closely with school staff to bring about a resolution to this incident.”

Though the threat was determined to be a hoax, law enforcement emphasized the gravity of such actions. “We take all threats to our schools seriously and will be working closely with the King County Prosecutor to develop criminal charges in this matter. Threats of any kind in our schools are unacceptable,” the department stated in a release.

Lynch echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the importance of prevention: “I believe that education on the seriousness and consequences of making false threats to a school needs to take place, and I look forward to working with school administrators on being proactive in getting the message out to all students. Parents need to take an active role in talking with their students about making false school threats as well.”

When asked about disciplinary action from the school, Lynch noted, “We have not been made aware of any disciplinary actions from the school at this time.”

Following the discovery, existing security measures remained in place, as officials determined no immediate change was necessary. “Security at our schools is a priority to the School District and the Police Department every day,” said Lynch. “The security measures that take place each day remain in place, and once the threat was found to be unfounded, we felt confident that the security system worked as it should have.”

The Snoqualmie Police Department continues to prioritize the safety of students and faculty and encourages community members to report any further information related to the incident.

Anyone with relevant details is asked to contact the department at 425-888-3333, option 1.

[Featured Image: Message left on Mount Si High School wall on Oct. 29, 2024]