Police investigate potential threat of violence at Richland High School

Tri-Cities police investigated a potential threat of violence at Richland High School on Thursday.

Richland police officers responded to a report of a student at the high school allegedly threatening violence the next day.

When officers investigated they found the student had already been suspended for 10 days on an unrelated matter, according to a social media post.

It’s unclear if this was a shooting related threat, but the department said the student did not have access to firearms at home.

Police and school resource officers interviewed the student, their parents and witnesses. The student and their family were fully cooperative, police said.

The department referred commenters to Richland schools for more information about potential disciplinary action.

Richland police said they take every school threat seriously, and their officers remain vigilant in protecting the community and its schools.

Richland schools were closed Friday due to inclement weather and will be closed Monday for the Presidents Day holiday.

It’s the second threat allegedly made by a Richland student in about a month. In early January police say a hoax threat was made just before students returned from winter break. In that instance, the student was arrested.