An earlier threat at Rainier Beach High School led to students evacuating the building and classes being cancelled. Two people have been arrested in connection with the threat.
According to Seattle Police Department investigators, both suspects, ages 17 and 21, did not attend Seattle Public Schools. Police recovered ammunition, two handguns, an extended magazine, and a drum magazine during their arrests. They were brought into custody on Thursday at a hotel in Auburn.
A basketball game was played on Friday at Bishop Blanchet High School for the first time since the threat, according to coaches. Threats forced the team to postpone its previous game against West Seattle.
While many in the school are still processing what happened, there have been a few signs of normalcy returning. One parent spoke out and shared, “the worst thing that you can do as a parent is to try to make sense of something that doesn’t make any sense.”
In this situation and the investigation, Seattle police say information from a student helped them out. Such situations require the public’s involvement, they say.
Detective Valarie Carson stated, “I understand it can sometimes be scary and you don’t want to be a tattletale, a rat, a nark, whatever you wanna call it. But there are always ways to do it discreetly and safely, and it’s so important because it can save someone’s life or multiple people’s lives.”
Parents are happy that arrests were made, but they believe schools still need to be safer than they currently are.
King County Jail is currently holding the 21-year-old suspect involved for unlawful possession of a firearm. The 17-year-old was taken to King County Children and Family Justice Center for felony domestic violence harassment.