A joint investigation is actively ongoing regarding a shooting threat at Gilpin County Schools. As a result, the schools were closed on Monday, August 15, 2022. The juvenile associated with the social media post has been identified, according to a statement from the Sheriff’s Office.

The Gilpin County Sheriff’s Office is aware of the concerning and threatening social media post that has been circulated today. “I want to assure our residents that the safety of our students and school community is a top priority of the Gilpin County Sheriff’s Office.” Sheriff Kevin Armstrong said.

According to the School website, Gilpin County Schools were closed to students Monday, August 15. All before school and after school activities were also canceled. All school staff were to report to work on August 15, as scheduled. The first day of school was then scheduled for Tuesday, August 16.

The Gilpin County School District hosted a meeting in the school auditorium at 6:30 p.m. on August 15, in conjunction with the Gilpin County Sheriff’s Office. This meeting was for Gilpin County school parents, staff, and students only.

The purpose of the meeting was to provide information to parents, students, and staff about school safety protocols and procedures and to address concerns regarding recent social media activity.

Sheriff Kevin Armstrong reported on the Monday night meeting at the Gilpin County Commission meeting the next day, on Tuesday, August 16. He said about 80 people attended in person and 120 through Zoom.

Armstrong said witnesses of the posting have come forward for the prosecution. “We want to have the integrity maintained within the investigation.”

The Sheriff’s Office received a text message regarding a post on Facebook that was threatening toward the student population. The Sheriff’s Office immediately began investigating. They have filed charges with the District Attorney’s office, and it will be up to the DA to determine what charges will be filed. The investigation could take many different directions. The FBI is also involved for their expertise on social media, Armstrong said.

They have multiple pieces to put together to make sure the school is safe and families feel comfortable sending their students to school. The post showed a person with a gun, which was an Airsoft weapon and not a functioning weapon.

“We talked a lot about school safety and making sure we are following through with training for deputies and first responders,” Armstrong said. “We train as a team, inside the school. We know a lot about the school, and the officers are trained significantly that the first deputy on the scene will immediately enter the school and neutralize the threat. We will attack aggressively.

“We will have no tolerance and will prosecute to the fullest extent of the law. We have plans in place and work every month with our partners regarding emergencies such as a bear getting in the school.” The Sheriff’s offce uses the protocol from the I Love You Guys Foundation at https://iloveuguys.org/ The-Standard-Response-Protocol.html.

“I’m comfortable with that, so we allowed school to open today,” Armstrong said. The Sheriff’s Office has a large presence in the school, and the Colorado State Patrol will also do walk-throughs. It may be weeks to complete the investigation, but,” Armstrong said, “we are prepared.”

According to the statement from the Sheriff’s Office, the person identified with the post has been suspended from school pending the outcome of the investigation. In an abundance of caution, and to allow investigators time to follow up on any and all leads, a joint decision was made to close the Gilpin County School for students only on Monday.

For more information about the Gilpin County Sheriff’s Office go to https://www.gilpincountysheriff.com/. For more information about the school, go to https://gilpin.k12.co.us/ en-US?showHomepage=true.