In the face of a growing number of school shootings, so much focus is being placed on the instruments of destruction being used that school officials may be missing critical signs that foretell what may lie in store.
There’s little debate that there were plenty of signs leading up to last year’s shooting at Stoneman Douglas High School, in Parkland, Fla., which claimed 17 lives, and the fatal shooting this week at a Colorado charter school may also fall into this category, as seen in a letter from a district official.
Five months before Tuesday’s shooting which left one student dead and eight more injured, the letter warned events at STEM School Highlands Ranch may result in “a repeat of Columbine.”
More from CNN:
Five months before Tuesday’s fatal shooting at a Colorado charter school, a district official urged the school’s administration to investigate allegations of violence, sexual assault and campus bullying that an anonymous parent feared could lead to “a repeat of Columbine,” according to a school district letter obtained by CNN.
The parent called a member of the county Board of Education to express “concerns about student violence due to a high-pressure environment,” according to the letter. The parent referenced an alleged bomb threat and other student clashes as evidence that the school could become the site of another Columbine, the infamous school shooting that occurred 20 years ago, only around seven miles from STEM School Highlands Ranch.
The letter was written by Douglas County School District official Daniel Winsor back in December.
Sent to STEM’s executive director Penelope Eucker, he said the parent complained “many students are suicidal and violent in school. Several students have reported sexual assault in school and that nothing is being done.”
A copy of the letter sent to the school was posted on Twitter by Daily Wire’s Ryan Saavedra:
Here is the letter pic.twitter.com/URK34neInq
— Ryan Saavedra (@RealSaavedra) May 10, 2019
Winsor asked Eucker to “investigate the allegations … determine their legitimacy and to take any remedial action that may be appropriate,” CNN reported.
In a February letter to parents, Eucker said the allegations had been investigated and there was no evidence to support the anonymous claims.
The letter informed parents that a lawsuit was filed against the “Jane Doe” parent for making “defamatory statements” about the school.
“We want you to know the depth of this depravity and apologize if you find this as offensive as we did,” the letter stated.
That statement did not age well and in response to the shooting, the ever familiar push to blame guns was seen in Colorado.
In fact, the politicization of the tragedy was so apparent, scores of students walked out in anger Wednesday evening during a vigil for the student who was killed.
As BizPac Review reported, the students said the speakers at the vigil — Democrat Rep. Jason Crow, Democrat. Sen. Michael Bennet and Laura Reeves, an activist with the gun-control group Moms Demand Action — all sought to exploit 18-year-old student Kendrick Castillo’s death to score political points against the gun lobby and drum up more votes for Democrats.
With so many young people taking psychotropic drugs, the potential effects of the “medication” is looked past in the rush to blame guns.
Even the student seem to grasp this, as some chanted “mental health” after walking out.
“Progressive” disciplinary standards are also readily pointed to.
Here’s a sampling of reactions from Twitter to what looks to be “another preventable tragedy.”
Once again great reporting on yiur part Ryan. This gets to heart of tragedy and focuses on how red flags are missed or ignored. That focus must eclipse the instant finger pointing and politicalization https://t.co/Z2CXrSzoUS
— Charles V Payne (@cvpayne) May 10, 2019
Because of Obama's policy changes, our schools are now rewarding bad behavior. If a child has an anger issue, the teachers/coaches are to help make them happy. But what about the child that got hurt or bullied because of that child with the anger issues? They have no voices! https://t.co/jywfdyyrjA
— tammiann (@tammiann) May 10, 2019
Wow, just wow, yet this wont stop the left from blaming guns.
Another shooting that could have been prevented.— Saladino for Congress (@JoeySalads) May 10, 2019
Another preventable tragedy.
— Marilyn Washabaugh (@WazzuCoug94) May 10, 2019
I keep saying it to everyone I can. Public schools across the country are in crisis following Obama’s 2012 mandate to reduce suspensions. There are no more consequences for dangerous kids because the schools are being pressured into cutting discipline numbers. HELP US.
— MintArcher – (Adorable) (@ArcherMint) May 10, 2019
Another preventable incident that became inevitable thanks to the worst president in history Obama.
— Doorman77 (@Poorman771) May 10, 2019
@AndrewPollackFL – this is exactly what you are up against…. Complacency & Incompetency. This is negligible & criminal.
— W_T_F_Politics (@W_T_F_Politics) May 10, 2019
THIS is the conversation we need to be having. Shame on Dems for politicizing this at their vigil.
— Rebecca D. (@Rebecca00893300) May 10, 2019
This sounds vaguely familiar… ? no? Did schools learn nothing after Parkland? ?
— #PittsburghStrong (@PghBlackGold) May 10, 2019
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The longest-tenured writer at BizPac Review, Tom grew up in Maryland before moving to Central Florida as a young teen. It is in the Sunshine State that he honed both his passion for politics and his writing skills.
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