Marshfield High School Responds to New Bomb Threat

Update: Marshfield High School Searched, No Threats Found

Marshfield, WI (OnFocus) The Marshfield High School dismissed its students at 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 17 in response to another bomb threat that was made on a bathroom stall.

[Related: Marshfield High School Releases Students Early in Response to Recent Threats]

This threat was confirmed by the Marshfield Police Department and school district to be a third, separate incident from the two threats made last week on bathroom stalls. The new threat stated that a bomb would go off on Tuesday, Dec. 17 at 1 p.m.

“For that reason, the school district immediately initiated an early release plan for the high school to clear the building prior to 1 p.m.,” stated Dr. Ryan Christianson, School Superintendent.

Since the threat was specific to the Marshfield High School, the other schools were to remain in session with normal release times and bus schedule.

“We have no reason to believe this is a credible threat, but out of extreme precaution is why this decision was made,” Marshfield police stated in a Facebook post.

Last Monday (Dec. 9), multiple bomb threat messages referencing the date 12-18-19 were found written on bathroom stalls, leading to the arrest the following day of two 17-year-old female students on felony charges of making terroristic threats. The two students did not intend to follow through on the threat.

A second threat of unknown nature but referencing the date 12-19-19 was discovered last Tuesday afternoon and is still under investigation by police, but was not believed to be credible.

As a precautionary measure in response to the second threat, the Marshfield Police Department planned to increase its presence at the high school on Wednesday, Dec. 18 and Thursday, Dec. 19. Staff also presented students Tuesday morning with a presentation on school safety, the consequences of making a threat, and resources for students.

The Marshfield High School informed parents it would release students early on Tuesday as “an extreme precaution due to recent threats.”

All after school activities taking place at the high school Tuesday evening have been cancelled. Curling at Wausau, the boys hockey game at Marshfield Ice Arena, and the girls hockey game at Stevens Point are still moving forward. A boys swimming contest has been postponed.