HOUSTON – The Klein Independent School District Police Department and the school’s principal said Tuesday that criminal charges are pending against a 15-year-old student who has been expelled after threats surfaced on social media this week.
School officials are calling the person “a student of interest” and said expulsion is in accordance with its Student Code of Conduct.
School law enforcement said at a minimum a charge of making a terroristic threat will be pursued, though enhanced charges are being pursued in this case.
Klein ISD Police Chief David Kimberly said FBI Houston worked the case and within 20 minutes had people at the student’s door.
Kimberly said students and their parents need to take these threats seriously and report them immediately and not circulate them.
“We will continue to update you to the fullest extent possible as we continue to investigate and take appropriate action on these threats,” school law enforcement and the principal said in a joint statement released Tuesday, adding, “The Klein ISD Police Department and Harris County Precinct 4 Constables will continue to be highly visible on campus to ensure the safety of our students and staff.”
In updates from school law enforcement, Klein ISD authorities initially said there was “knowledge of social media posts circulating that reference an unknown person making a threat against our campus,” but that it “(did) not believe the posts or threats to be credible.” Authorities added, “However, out of an abundance of caution for student and staff safety, we will have increased police presence on campus.”
The first update from school officials read further, “Klein ISD has a zero-tolerance policy and significant legal ramifications exist for making threats. All threats are taken seriously, investigated completely, and addressed through the Student Code of Conduct as well as through law enforcement. Families, please talk to your children about the serious nature of making threats. We always encourage anyone with knowledge about threats to immediately inform campus administration, the Klein ISD Police Department 24/7 at 832-249-4266, or use the Keep Klein Safe anonymous reporting tool to send us information via the web at https://kleinisd.net/keepkleinsafe. See it? Say it! Don’t spread it! Report it! Should you have any questions, please contact the campus during school hours at 832-375-8400, or Klein ISD Police Department 24/7 at 832-249-4266.”
This is the second update from school authorities:
Klein Cain Families:
This is a follow-up letter to specifically address the fights and threats to our school, which have occurred over the past few days.
As a parent, a member of this community, and a longtime educator, I join many of you in being disheartened and frustrated that the actions of a few members of our student body have made some in our community and school feel unsafe. Today, I am calling on you, our Klein Cain Community, to help us address the disruption being caused at our otherwise outstanding school.
As always, any individual who makes threats or who fights on our campus will be thoroughly dealt with to the fullest extent of the Klein ISD Student Code of Conduct and the law. We continue to work closely with Klein ISD Police and the Harris County District Attorney to ensure any individual who disrupts the learning environment will be dealt with accordingly.
We will not tolerate this disruptive behavior.
Please help us by monitoring your child’s social media accounts. A disturbing social media trend has emerged across the nation, which involves students posting disruptive behavior on social media at schools to gain likes. These posts are not always accurate, spread misinformation, and disrupt the learning environment. This kind of activity will continue to be fully investigated and any student involved will be punished to the fullest extent of the Student Code of Conduct and the law.
Thank you to the parents and students who have informed us about these social media posts, and we encourage this continued cooperation. Report anything that concerns you to our campus at (832) 375-8400 or the Klein ISD Police Department 24/7 at (832) 249-4266.
Talk to your children about the severe nature of fighting or making threats. In addition, we always encourage anyone with knowledge about concerning behavior to immediately inform campus administration, the Klein ISD Police Department 24/7 at (832) 249-4266, or use the Keep Klein Safe anonymous reporting tool to send us information via the web at https://kleinisd.net/keepkleinsafe.
ADDITIONAL SAFETY PROTOCOLS: Out of an abundance of caution, the Klein ISD Police Department will further enhance our safety measures by conducting random backpack searches today and will not permit backpacks on campus for the remainder of this semester. Students are permitted to bring their laptop for learning, and students may bring small clutch bags. As our students continue to comply with the safety measures we have in place, we will further communicate when students will be able to return with backpacks. Additionally, we will have canine detection services on campus to conduct random searches of vehicles and campus areas for added protection of students and staff safety.
We appreciate your partnership as we continue maintaining our safe learning environment. Should you have any questions or information to share with us to help us maintain a safe learning environment, please contact the campus during school hours at (832) 375-8400 or Klein ISD Police Department 24/7 (832) 249-4266.
Nicole Patin
Klein Cain High School Principal”
This is the latest update from school authorities:
Dear Klein Cain Families,
This is an update about the social media posts circulating, which we referenced in previous communications sent last night (12/6) and today (12/7).
Upon being made aware of these threats, the Klein ISD Police Department and Klein ISD administration immediately began investigating. As the investigation continued, Klein ISD Police Department, working in conjunction with the Precinct 4 Constable’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), identified a student of interest. Criminal charges are pending on the identified student. Additionally, Klein ISD administration has emergency expelled the student in accordance with the Student Code of Conduct.
We will continue to update you to the fullest extent possible as we continue to investigate and take appropriate action on these threats.
The Klein ISD Police Department and Harris County Precinct 4 Constables will continue to be highly visible on campus to ensure the safety of our students and staff.
Thank you for your continued partnership in helping us stop this unnecessary disruption to our students’ learning and our school community. Please report anything that concerns you to our campus at (832) 375-8400 or the Klein ISD Police Department 24/7 at (832) 249-4266.
Sincerely,
David Kimberly
Klein ISD Chief of Police
Nicole Patin
Klein Cain High School Principal