Fort Madison School Superintendent Dr. Kenneth Marang confirmed that a 15 year old, male student from Fort Madison High School told a few students, on Wednesday, to stay home on Friday because he planned to “shoot the school up” on that day.
Those students told school officials of the warning they were given by this student and the School Resource Officer contacted the Fort Madison Police Department. On Thursday, the 15 year old student was removed from school and detained for “threat of terrorism”, which is a class D felony. He has been released from custody to his parent and is suspended from school.
Marang says that police officers were present on Friday, in and around the high school building to provide additional security in lieu of the threat. Many students chose to not attend school on Friday, Marang said he understood that this frightened many of the students and parents.
This incident is still considered under investigation.
