MAYFIELD HEIGHTS, Ohio — The Mayfield City School District was placed on a soft lockdown on Tuesday after school officials received an online threat. That lockdown has been lifted and a suspect has been taken into custody.
In a letter to district families, Mayfield school officials say they were notified by police at approximately 7:20 a.m. about an online threat to unspecified schools referencing "Columbine." (the 1999 fatal school shooting in Littleton, Colorado)
According to the Mayfield Heights Police Department, the post was made on Facebook by a male. However, he did not direct the post toward any particular school or city.
"Although it's believed the male no longer lives in the Mayfield School District, he has ties to the Hillcrest area," Mayfield Heights police leaders wrote in a Facebook post. As a precaution, police departments in the district increased patrols on school grounds, while the buildings were placed on a soft lockdown.
Mayfield Heights police later announced that a suspect was taken into custody and specifically thanked the Willoughby Police Department for its assistance.
"Mayfield City School administrators and local law enforcement agencies take this and any threat very seriously," district officials added in its letter. We want our parents and the public to know we are proactive. We place the safety of our students and staff as our highest priority."
