Student’s social-media post deemed a threat to Muslims

Published 1:30 am Monday, May 6, 2019

BOTHELL — Sheriff’s deputies and the Northshore School District are continuing separate investigations into a student’s social media post deemed threatening to Muslim families.

Authorities were called April 24 and asked to investigate, said Courtney O’Keefe, a Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman.

“A 15-year-old male student posted a picture on Instagram which appeared to target Muslim families,” O’Keefe said late last week. “The image was reported to the school and an administrator contacted the family of the student and the post was removed.”

“This is still an active investigation,” O’Keefe added. “No arrest has been made.”

The North Creek student has not been allowed to return to campus pending the outcome of the district’s and sheriff’s office investigations. The threat was not directed at the school, said Lisa Youngblood Hall, a school district spokeswoman.

Northshore Superintendent Michelle Reid brought the incident to the attention of school district families in an April 24 email.

She said a student posted a threatening photo on social media, which she described as “hateful and offensive.”

“We reported the post to the social media platform as hate speech,” she wrote.

David Swissa, a member of the school district’s equity and diversity committee, has been a voice for the area’s Muslim community.

He said he is impressed that the district was quick to address the incident and he hopes the outcome encourages meaningful conversations.

The incident is a concern not just to Muslim people but the greater community as well, he said.

“As far as us, as a community, I and other people, I think more dialogue and getting to know one another is past due in our society,” he said.

Eric Stevick: 425-339-3446; stevick@heraldnet.com.

Correction: An earlier version stated the wrong date of the Northshore School District email about the incident.