Rapid City schools closed following social media threats

December 17, 2021

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — Public schools in Rapid City are closed after a social media post threatened a middle school amid nationwide TikTok posts warning of shooting and bomb threats.

The Rapid City Police Department says officers believed the threatening social media post directed at “a North Middle School” had originated in Iowa.

The department said Rapid City Area Schools canceled classes out of caution for the safety of students.

The social media threats had many educators on edge as they circulated in the aftermath of a deadly school shooting in Michigan, which has been followed by numerous copycat threats to schools elsewhere.