'I feel very helpless:' Students, families concerned after bomb, shooting threats target Waukesha middle school

 

WAUKESHA, Wis. (CBS 58) -- A Waukesha middle school is ramping up its security efforts after becoming the focus of several threats made online over the last two weeks.

Waukesha police said they've recently investigated at least four targeting Butler Middle School -- all involving bombs and in one case, a school shooting.

So far, none of the threats have been deemed credible. Police said their computer internet crimes experts determined three were sourced from overseas in Nigeria and Russia, while the shooting came from district students.

In a statement to parents, district officials said, "contact has been made with students and families involved."

"We have no tolerance for threats and spreading of rumors related to violence in our school community," the statement continued.

Officials also confirmed Butler is the only school in the district receiving the threats.

Back on March 4, 2024, a social media account known for its far-right wing messaging posted a photo of a Butler educator who won Wisconsin Associate Principal of the Year in 2023. 

That educator is also a member of the LGBTQIA+ community. 

The post on the social media account, which has three-million followers on X, received hundreds of thousands of views.

While police haven't confirmed a link from this specific post to the threats, they believe Butler is the only school targeted because of a social media post.

The first email threat came four days after, on March 8, addressed to Waukesha County Health and Human Services and referencing Butler.

A couple more arrived in the following days, resulting in Butler being placed on a "secure hold" for nearly an hour on March 12.

On Sunday, March 17, Waukesha Superintendent Jim Sebert and a member of the Waukesha Police Department (WPD) released a near 10-minute video addressing safety concerns.

"It's been a tough week at Butler," Sebert said at the beginning of the clip. "I'm here today with Lt. Pergande from the WPD in an effort to provide a sense of calm and community."

But some in Butler's community said that "it's not enough."

CBS 58's Ellie Nakamoto-White spoke with a Butler parent, who requested to remain anonymous, who said it feels like parents "are being left in the dark."

"It's been really unsettling to know that my child is in a place that's being threatened multiple times," the parent said. "I feel very helpless as a parent."

The parent added that "it seems like it's because of this [educator's] sexuality that they're being attacked."

"The district needs to be more clear about to whom the threats are being sent, the specifics of the threats," they said. "I think it'd be important for the district to voice support for the educator who's being attacked."

The parent said they've heard other staff remain "unnerved."

"Our family is taking it on a day-to-day basis," they said. "The students are going to pick up on it right away. It's hard to express to them what's happening when parents aren't really sure what's happening."

Police said they are continuing to monitor the school's live camera feeds and despite the threats being not credible, are increasing their presence both on campus and in the surrounding area.

"We can't predict the future," the parent said. "But we just hope that the threats stop."