Possible Threats Against North Iowa Schools, 16-Year-Old Juvenile Facing Charges

Last week, authorities investigated multiple threats aimed at North Iowa schools, with one juvenile arrested.

The Mason City Police Department (MCPD) was contacted Friday (10.04) morning by Mason City High School officials about a social media post regarding a school shooting threat at the high school “during 2-3 periods.” The original post was from SnapChat that surfaced on Thursday (10.03) elsewhere in North Iowa. 

Investigators determined there was no credible threat to students, staff, or the community in Mason City. 

Hampton Police addressed two threats to the Hampton-Dumont High School. The first alleged threat on Monday (09.30) resulted with an unnamed 16-year-old being charged with terrorism and first-degree harassment. A separate threat circulated Wednesday (10.02), again aimed at Hampton-Dumont High School, was deemed not credible by authorities.

Thursday (10.03), Immaculate Conception Elementary in Charles City went into a “soft lockdown” not because of a threat against the school, but  due to an incident near the school on Clark Street. 

Charles City Police asked IC School to lockdown their facility when a person fleeing law enforcement on foot was headed towards the school. 

CCPD took the subject into custody on the IC ball diamonds just southeast of the school and lockdown was removed, which Police Chief Hugh Anderson said was done out of an abundance of caution for the safety of their students and staff.