Another school threat — this time a shooting threat at Highland Park High School

Local authorities responded to Highland Park High School Thursday after text messages reportedly indicated a shooting threat at the school.

According to a statement from the Township School District 113, an unknown individual sent text messages to at least two two students on Wednesday evening that said there would be a shooting at HPHS. A teacher heard students discussing the messages and informed school administration. The school alerted the police department around noon.

The statement says police officers responded and remained on site, and the school’s weapons-detection system was put back at the school entrances.

The City of Highland Park said in a message that although the threat was specific to HPHS, police increased patrols at all Highland Park schools.

The incident comes about six months after a Highland Park High School student was arrested for bringing a gun to school on April 4, causing a two-hour lockdown. The April incident also sparked a movement to increase security measures at the high school, and prior to the school year, the district voted to add metal detectors and more safety enhancements to the school’s campus.

Thursday’s activity also comes while another Highland Park school, Red Oak Elementary, is investigating a series of threats, including bomb threats, that caused two school evacuations.

Stay tuned to TheRecordNorthShore.org as this story develops.

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