A student was “permanently removed” by Bishop Miege following anti-Semitic and racist threats on social media, says the Roeland Park police chief. Stock photo.
Roeland Park Police say a Bishop Miege High School student has been “permanently removed” from the school after posting a racial threat on social media last week.
Last Monday evening, administrators of the private Catholic high school learned of the post shared in a Snapchat group, which reportedly suggested that black students at the school had been shot.
Roeland Park police conducted an investigation into the threat with Kansas City, Mo. police, concluding, in part, that no shooting had actually been planned.
A student “tampered” with a Snapchat post
- In a statement over the weekend, Roeland Park Police Chief John Morris said a student had been identified as the person who “edited messages with threats and altered verbiage”.
- Bishop Miege’s administration did not immediately respond to the Post’s request for comment to confirm what discipline any student at the school faces as a result of the threat.
- “We will continue to support Bishop Miege High School and KCMOPD as needed,” Morris’s statement read. “Student safety and well-being are and will remain the top priority now and always.”
We will continue to support Bishop Miege High School and KCMOPD as needed. The safety and well-being of students is and will remain the top priority now and always.” – Roeland Park Police Chief John Morris
— Roeland Park, KS (@RoelandParkKS) January 27, 2023
No evidence that a shooting was planned
- Morris said the Snapchat threat “included racial and anti-Semitic verbiage.”
- The Kansas City Star reported that the screenshots showed a Snapchat message “warning black students to ‘be careful’ because ‘I’m going to bring a gun to school and I’m going to shoot these cotton pickers.'”
- Morris also said in his statement “there was no solid evidence that there would have been a shooting.”
The KCPD will conclude the investigation
- Morris said the KCPD was “working to conclude its investigation” and that if criminal charges were brought, then it would fall under the jurisdiction of the KCPD.
- Donna Drake, a public information officer at the KCPD, told the Post by email that the agency “will routinely comply with requests from outside agencies to assist in their investigations and vice versa.”
- The detective agency is decided based on “where the actual crime occurred,” Drake said.
- When asked whether Miege’s threats took place in Kansas City, Drake said “there is no additional information available about an active investigation.”
Local officials speak of a threat
- Recently appointed Roeland Park Mayor Michael Poppa expressed his appreciation for the city’s Police Department through the investigation.
- Poppa called the threats “senseless hate messages” and said that “there is no place for this type of behavior or hatred in our community.”
- Former Roeland Park Mayor and current Johnson County Chairman Mike Kelly also chimed in, saying he was “disturbed and saddened” by the incident.
Read more: Local groups issue call to action after Miege threat
