JUDA - Authorities say a teen who posted self-penned rap lyrics about a "Juda shoota" on Facebook poses no threat to his fellow Juda High School students and has admitted it was a "stupid" thing to do.
"The student is extremely remorseful," said Superintendent Phillip Updike said in a statement released Friday, "and the sheriff's department is confident that this student does not have access to weapons or have the intent to carry out an act of violence."
Letters alerting authorities to the posting, postmarked from a "concerned parent," arrived in the mail this week at the school and sheriff's department, according to Sheriff Jeff Skatrud.
On Thursday, he said, a deputy, detectives and school staff investigated the incident and interviewed the student, "who admitted to making a very stupid posting."
They found that the expletive-laced lyrics the teen posted referenced a shooter but did not make any specific threats toward the school, staff or students.
"By the end of Thursday, we felt everything was OK," Skatrud said. "I don't think it rises to anything chargeable on our end."
But by that night, news of the incident had spread on Facebook and "fueled rumors that took on a life of their own," Updike said.
"Lots of things were out there that were not true," he added later, and in some cases were "complete fabrications."
It isn't the first time in recent months that rumors online have caused more public safety concern than police feel is warranted.
Facebook "reared its ugly head" again, Skatrud said. Phones started ringing at the sheriff's department dispatch line at 5:30 or 6 a.m. Friday, and the school office was also "deluged" with calls from concerned parents, he said.
Skatrud's department spent Friday "alleviating fears." He even posted a deputy to the school for the day.
Still, he understands why parents would be alarmed.
"It's totally understandable," he said. "Parents just need to be reassured. Our part is to reassure people, 'It's OK there.'"
"The student is extremely remorseful," said Superintendent Phillip Updike said in a statement released Friday, "and the sheriff's department is confident that this student does not have access to weapons or have the intent to carry out an act of violence."
Letters alerting authorities to the posting, postmarked from a "concerned parent," arrived in the mail this week at the school and sheriff's department, according to Sheriff Jeff Skatrud.
On Thursday, he said, a deputy, detectives and school staff investigated the incident and interviewed the student, "who admitted to making a very stupid posting."
They found that the expletive-laced lyrics the teen posted referenced a shooter but did not make any specific threats toward the school, staff or students.
"By the end of Thursday, we felt everything was OK," Skatrud said. "I don't think it rises to anything chargeable on our end."
But by that night, news of the incident had spread on Facebook and "fueled rumors that took on a life of their own," Updike said.
"Lots of things were out there that were not true," he added later, and in some cases were "complete fabrications."
It isn't the first time in recent months that rumors online have caused more public safety concern than police feel is warranted.
Facebook "reared its ugly head" again, Skatrud said. Phones started ringing at the sheriff's department dispatch line at 5:30 or 6 a.m. Friday, and the school office was also "deluged" with calls from concerned parents, he said.
Skatrud's department spent Friday "alleviating fears." He even posted a deputy to the school for the day.
Still, he understands why parents would be alarmed.
"It's totally understandable," he said. "Parents just need to be reassured. Our part is to reassure people, 'It's OK there.'"