Troopers: Man Associated With Skyline Post Not Responsible For Threat

The man that the Internet blamed for posting a threat against Skyline Middle School is not responsible for the post, according to Public Information Officer, Master Corporal Michael Austin.

Austin said in the threat, which was posted on Instagram, a subject intended to carry out a shooting at the school this morning, Monday, January 27, 2020.

The investigation, which is a collaborative effort between the Delaware State Police and the Red Clay Consolidated School District, continued throughout Sunday evening and into the early morning hours of Monday. The initial investigation has determined the threat to be non-credible. However, out of an abundance of caution additional police personnel were on campus at both Skyline Middle School and Heritage Elementary School to further ensure the safety of the school community. The presence at Heritage Elementary School was only due to it’s close proximity to Skyline Middle School. There was no threat made to Heritage.

Based on various investigative measures, detectives from the Troop 2 Youth Aid Division, have determined that the male subject associated with the Instagram account is not responsible for the threat, and he has been ruled out as a suspect in the incident, said Austin. The subject was not in possession of the phone which was utilized to post the threat at the time it was posted, and it is currently unaccounted for, said Austin. The post was made without the subject’s knowledge or his authorization. The identity of the suspect responsible for posting the threat is unknown at this time, according to Austin.

The Delaware State Police are continuing to investigate a social media threat involving Skyline Middle School that circulated Sunday evening.

The investigation is active and ongoing and anyone with information regarding the incident is asked to contact the Troop 2 Youth Aid Division by calling 302-365-8397.