300 students skip school after threat

TIPP CITY, Ohio (WDTN) - Tipp City police planned to ramp up security at all of the school district's building Friday morning, after a second threat was found Thursday.

According to Sergeant Marc Basye, officials would be going through the same process-- screening students as they enter the building and checking their backpacks.

Nearly 300 students skipped school Thursday in Tipp City after threats of a Columbine style attack.

Police are now trying to figure out who wrote that threatening message found in a bathroom at Tippecanoe High School and who made a new threat Thursday afternoon, possibly on a Facebook page.

Police and a security team from Wright Patterson Air Force Base stood guard both outside and inside the building as traffic slowly moved into the parking lot and students filtered through the front doors.

"I got to school and the dog was just kinda looking through the bags and making sure there was nothing there and they had us just go in the school and leave everything in the lockers," said Daniel McKowen , Tippecanoe student.

Tipp City Police Sergeant Chris Graham decided to beef up patrols after school officials notified the department of a threatening message found inside a boys bathroom Wednesday after school.

"We have extra police presence on the grounds today in fact we have extra in all of our schools," said Graham.

Parents received this message from Tipp City school district superintendent John Kronour Wednesday night, "Today at the high school in the boys' bathroom, or one of the boys' bathrooms, a cryptic note was found that stated "School Columbine #2 2/14/13. Good Luck."

It sparked disappointment and fear.   "It's something we shouldn't have to worry about, but we do and we have to protect our young people," said Jane Thompson, grandmother.

Students like McKowen were well aware that the message referenced the Columbine High School shooting massacre in 1999.  12 students and a teacher were killed.

"The threat makes me kind of freak out a little bit," said Alex Sterns, Tippecanoe student.

The superintendent didn't punish any student who did not wish to come to school.  Only 76 of the usual 94 percent showed up for class, including Senior Daniel McKowen. 

"This is probably the safest day to be here and they didn't understand why a whole bunch of people weren't here. We had all the police here today and I honestly thought it was the safest day to be here too," said McKowen.

Police and school officials are urging any one with any information pertaining to the note to come forward.