Police investigating bomb threat at Northampton High School

NORTHAMPTON, MA (WGGB/WSHM) - Northampton Police responded to the Northampton High School on Elm Street Tuesday afternoon for reports of a bomb threat.

Officials told Western Mass News that officers arrived at the school around 2 p.m. to investigate the threat, which was generated on social media.

We caught up with one parent, Stacey Blanco, outside the high school. She said that communication from the school, “has not been good regarding the bomb threat situation.”

“There was an email that went out earlier that was very vague, nothing about any kind of threat or violence, positive or negative,” Blanco told us. “It just said something like the superintendent would be sending something shortly, which I didn’t get.”

Western Mass News obtained a letter from Interim Superintendent Jannell Pearson-Campbell, who wrote:

“Today at 2:00 p.m., our administration received information regarding a group text where a student issued a bomb threat. As a precaution, we contacted all appropriate authorities and our administrators of Northampton High School implemented our policy for a bomb threat. The students were evacuated from the building at 3:45 p.m.”

State Fire Marshal Jake Wark also told Western Mass News:

“The State Police Bomb Squad, as well as other agencies, responded to support Northampton Public Safety officials. No items of concern were identified and they have cleared the scene.”

Interim Superintendent Pearson-Campbell added in that letter to parents that her office will have a discussion with educators and a brief meeting with students Wednesday morning. She said that there will be a special school committee meeting Thursday at 6:30 p.m. via Zoom.

Western Mass News will continue to follow this story and will have more information as it becomes available.

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