Schools districts across Sussex County are responding to reports of mass shooting and bomb threats that were made online as part of a viral nationwide TikTok trend on social media.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Many schools took steps to increase security Friday, adding armed constables in addition to their school resource officers, including the Indian River School District who issued the following statement to parents Thursday evening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe Indian River School District and local law enforcement take these threats seriously and investigate each one thoroughly,” Indian River officials stated. “Our investigations have determined that none of these threats are credible. However, our school constables and school resource officers will remain vigilant in protecting the safety of students and staff on a daily basis.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Milford School District also issued a statement to parents via Facebook, asking them to speak to their children while emphasizing that the threats remain unsubstantiated. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe post appears to be part of a national TikTok trend. The Delaware State Police and Milford Police Department have confirmed that there is no known threat at this time,” the statement read. “Any threat to our schools will have consequences to the fullest extent. Thank you for your partnership as we work together to ensure a safe, secure, and positive learning environment for all.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Laurel School District issued a statement as well advising against students sharing any of the material online.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis situation serves as a good example of why it is important to avoid sharing posts online that refer to school safety threats. Even if they are not credible threats, they can cause a great deal of stress and anxiety for our students, families, and staff,” the statement read. “The intent of this message is to alleviate those concerns and ensure all of our school community members that, once again, this a NON-CREDIBLE threat, and that school safety is our foremost priority.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sussex Academy decided to excuse students for the day if parents choose to keep them home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIf for any reason you are uncomfortable sending your child to school tomorrow and choose to start the winter break a day earlier, the absence will be excused,” Sussex Academy stated. “However, it is to be reiterated that there have been no specific threats made to Sussex Academy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Erin Chronister, whose daughter attends Sussex Academy, says despite the threats being unsubstantiated she, like many other parents, did not feel comfortable sending her child to school Friday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“I know schools were saying that it was unfounded and that they communicated with the Delaware State Police, but things do happen, who’s to say that at the last minute somebody wouldn’t decide ‘I’m going to do this,'” Chronister said. “I just felt like, if I sent her, and something did happen, then I don’t think I could live with that.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The viral video challenges students to call schools with threats of violent actions, such as bomb threats and school shooting threats.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Schools districts across Sussex County are responding to reports of mass shooting and bomb threats that were made online as part of a viral nationwide TikTok trend on social media. Many schools took steps to increase security Friday, adding armed constables in addition to their school resource officers, including the Indian River School District who […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1996,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[29],"tags":[32,41,114,181,151,38,150,203,47],"class_list":["post-1995","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-delaware","tag-delmarva","tag-indian-river-school-district","tag-laurel-school-district","tag-milford-school-district","tag-news","tag-schools","tag-sussex-academy","tag-sussex-county"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/School-Districts.jpg?fit=770%2C457&ssl=1","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pbtNqq-wb","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":15335,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/indian-river-board-weighs-cuts-to-local-school-resource-officers-amid-budget-concerns\/","url_meta":{"origin":1995,"position":0},"title":"Indian River Board Weighs Cuts to Local School Resource Officers Amid Budget Concerns","author":"admin","date":"June 2, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Sussex County, Delaware \u2013 The Indian River Board of Education is debating whether to continue funding school resource officers (SROs) from the Georgetown, Millsboro, Selbyville, and Ocean View police departments for the 2025\u20132026 school year. The annual cost of $294,480 remains a significant challenge for the district. The district partially\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/empty-classroom-with-desks-and-chairs-2025-04-05-05-03-45-utc-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/empty-classroom-with-desks-and-chairs-2025-04-05-05-03-45-utc-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/empty-classroom-with-desks-and-chairs-2025-04-05-05-03-45-utc-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/empty-classroom-with-desks-and-chairs-2025-04-05-05-03-45-utc-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/empty-classroom-with-desks-and-chairs-2025-04-05-05-03-45-utc-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":13289,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/indian-river-school-district-holds-referendum\/","url_meta":{"origin":1995,"position":1},"title":"Indian River School District Holds Referendum","author":"admin","date":"March 20, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"SUSSEX COUNTY, Del. \u2013 The Indian River School District is holding a current expense referendum today, March 20th, 2025, seeking funding for increased operating costs and efforts to recruit and retain staff. Voting is open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. at designated polling locations across the district. Residents can\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/IRSD.jpg?fit=1200%2C772&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/IRSD.jpg?fit=1200%2C772&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/IRSD.jpg?fit=1200%2C772&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/IRSD.jpg?fit=1200%2C772&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/IRSD.jpg?fit=1200%2C772&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":15456,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/indian-river-school-district-referendum-fails-budget-cuts-likely-ahead\/","url_meta":{"origin":1995,"position":2},"title":"Indian River School District Referendum Fails, Budget Cuts Likely Ahead","author":"admin","date":"June 6, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"SUSSEX COUNTY, Del. \u2014 Voters in the Indian River School District turned down a proposed current expense referendum on Thursday, a result that is expected to worsen the district\u2019s ongoing financial strain. Unofficial results showed 6,766 voting against the proposal, compared to 5,700 in favor. The referendum was intended to\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/IRSD-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C772&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/IRSD-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C772&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/IRSD-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C772&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/IRSD-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C772&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/IRSD-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C772&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":14430,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/indian-river-school-district-sets-early-end-to-school-year\/","url_meta":{"origin":1995,"position":3},"title":"Indian River School District Sets Early End to School Year","author":"admin","date":"April 30, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Selbyville, Del. -- The Indian River School District has adjusted its 2024-2025 academic calendar, allowing students and staff to conclude the school year earlier than planned. On April 28, the Indian River Board of Education approved the changes, leveraging extra instructional time added earlier this year. In March, the Indian\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/IRSD-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C772&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/IRSD-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C772&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/IRSD-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C772&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/IRSD-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C772&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/IRSD-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C772&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2723,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/irsd-to-vote-on-mask-mandate-monday\/","url_meta":{"origin":1995,"position":4},"title":"IRSD to vote on mask mandate Monday","author":"admin","date":"February 25, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"The Indian River School board is set to vote on an end to mask mandate on Monday, February 28th at its public meeting. The meeting will be held at Sussex Central High School at 7:00 p.m. with public comments prior to the vote. The district would be the second in\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/irsd.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/irsd.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/irsd.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/irsd.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/irsd.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":13987,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/indian-river-school-district-to-seek-22-5-million-in-june-referendum\/","url_meta":{"origin":1995,"position":5},"title":"INDIAN RIVER SCHOOL DISTRICT TO SEEK $22.5 MILLION IN JUNE REFERENDUM","author":"admin","date":"April 14, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"GEORGETOWN, Del. \u2013 Voters in the Indian River School District will decide on June 5 whether to approve $22.5 million in local funding aimed at closing budget gaps and supporting essential school operations. The funding request comes as the district works to manage rising operational costs that have created persistent\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/person-depositing-voting-card-into-ballot-box-for-2025-03-05-19-34-39-utc-scaled.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/person-depositing-voting-card-into-ballot-box-for-2025-03-05-19-34-39-utc-scaled.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/person-depositing-voting-card-into-ballot-box-for-2025-03-05-19-34-39-utc-scaled.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/person-depositing-voting-card-into-ballot-box-for-2025-03-05-19-34-39-utc-scaled.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/person-depositing-voting-card-into-ballot-box-for-2025-03-05-19-34-39-utc-scaled.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/person-depositing-voting-card-into-ballot-box-for-2025-03-05-19-34-39-utc-scaled.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1995","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1995"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1995\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1997,"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1995\/revisions\/1997"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1996"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1995"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1995"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1995"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}