Mason Middle School student faces criminal charges after reports of violent threats

A Mason Middle School student now faces criminal charges after several reports of violent threats were sent to the Mason City Schools' SafeSchool tip line Friday evening.

Tracey Carson, public information officer for MCS, sent an email to parents Friday saying the student made threats to shoot another classmate and had marked other peers as being "safe" with tape. 

According to the email, Mason Police also received tips about the threat, and the school's Campus Safety Team immediately began an investigation. 

Carson said that there is no threat to school safety. 

"Often, students are not thinking through the impact their words have -- whether 'joking' or not," Carson said in the email. "Comments and threats have serious ramifications for our school and for those who make them." 

Carson told the Enquirer that she could not share information about the student, such as their age or what charges they face.

In the letter, Carson also addressed that some students had circulated information about the threat using social media platforms such as Snapchat. Carson told parents that by spreading the threat on social media, "many well-meaning students have perpetuated a threat rather than diminishing it." 

"Please talk with your child about the safest and most productive ways to respond to scary things like this -- which is to talk to you, report to our tip line or directly to school staff or local law enforcement," Carson said. 

Students and parents can submit safety concerns by calling or texting 513-972-4910 or emailing 1059@alert1.us. Tips can also be submitted anonymously using the SafeSchool link.