KATY MAGAZINE NEWS
May 9, 2019
By Natalie Cook Clark
Katy ISD Police say a suspect is in custody after making terroristic threats to Paetow High School and Stockdick Junior High. The threats were made on social media yesterday and school officials reacted quickly to alert authorities. An extra police presence will be at both schools today.
Photo credit: KISD
STORY UPDATED May 9 at 8:34 am: The KISD Police Department has provided more information on this developing story. They posted the following on their official Facebook page. "A suspect was identified and is in custody charged with Exhibition of a Firearm and Online Impersonation. The juvenile in the photos was not the suspect who made the threats and was completely unaware."
Threat Circulated Via Social Media
Last night, the principals of Paetow High School and Stockdick Junior High informed parents and staff about a terroristic threat made via social media to both schools. They stressed the importance of everyone's safety and said authorities were taking the matter seriously.
Message from Paetow High School:
In a message, Paetow HS Principal Mindy Dickerson states that the suspect is a possible Paetow student.
Dear PHS Parents, Staff, and Community,
This evening school administration was made aware of a photo circulating on social media that featured a possible Paetow High School student holding a handgun, as well as an automatic gun that was laying on the floor. The post included a direct threat pertaining to PHS. Katy ISD police were immediately informed of the post, and have already begun an active investigation and identified a potential suspect.
Please know that safety is our highest priority at PHS. As such, out of an abundance of caution, we intend to have extra police officers patrolling our campus area tomorrow morning and throughout the day. In the meantime, we encourage parents to help students understand the serious implications that can result from inappropriate and/or threatening language or gestures. Please confirm with them the important role they play in keeping our school safe, and to report all potential threats or safety issues to an administrator or teacher immediately.
Students found to be making threats are disciplined to the fullest extent allowable by law and the Katy ISD Discipline Management Plan and Student Code of Conduct. With your help, we will continue our commitment to maintaining a safe and secure learning environment for all students.
I will provide an update on this incident once more information is known.
Mindy Dickerson
Principal
Paetow High School
Stockdick Junior High Principal Also Responds
Stockdick Junior High Principal Mark McCord issued a very similar statement and added, "Since the investigation began, we also now know that the post included a threat to Stockdick JH." Stockdick Junior High feeds into Paetow High School and is located near the Elyson development at 4777 Peek Road. The school opened in 2017.
KISD Police Announce Suspect Is In Custody
This morning KISD Police Department took to their official Facebook page to announce that the suspect is in custody.
"Yesterday evening reports of a terroristic threat to Paetow High School and Stockdick Junior High were reported and spread through social media. School officials immediately reported the incident to the Katy ISD Police Department who immediately began investigating. A suspect was identified and is in custody charged with making a terroristic threat. Additional officers will be at the campuses this morning to provide an extra presence."
Paetow High School, like Stockdick Junior High, opened in 2017. It was approved and built to relieve and address crowding at Katy High School and Morton Ranch High School.