Morenci schools canceled due to shooting threat

Walt Mares File Photo/Gila Herald: Morenci schools were canceled Monday due to an online shooting threat.

Walt Mares File Photo/Gila Herald: Morenci schools were canceled Monday due to an online shooting threat.

By Jon Johnson

jonjohnsonnews@gmail.com

MORENCI – All Morenci schools, including preschool, Metcalf Elementary, Fairbanks Middle School, and Morenci High School, are closed today due to an online shooting threat. The only thing open is daycare.  

The Greenlee County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a school shooting threat that was posted on the social media platform “Snapchat” on Sunday. 

The post came from a user titled “Who Knows” and said “I’m someone that lives in Arizona and hates Morenci do you know we’re that is? I would stay home tomorrow if I were you And let everyone in Morenci know not to come to school tomorrow they may get shot” (sic)

The Greenlee Sheriff’s Office reported that the threat “seems to not have merit” and that officers and deputies would be at all Morenci schools Monday. However, the decision was made to cancel classes for Monday. 

According to a school representative, classes are expected to resume on Tuesday. 

In September, classes were canceled in Sahuarita due to social media threats to shoot “hundreds of students” in the Sahuarita Unified School District. A teenager was arrested regarding that threat.