EVERETT — Everett Community College added security on campus Monday morning after a series of social media posts raised concerns about safety.
Police determined there was no threat.
A man who is a former student reportedly posted a note on Facebook in September, saying he had a dream that something bad would happen on Monday. In another message, posted Sunday, the man mentioned the recent mass shooting at Umpqua Community College in Roseburg, Oregon.
He also had been sending private messages to a young woman he’d met at EvCC.
The woman reported the messages to police recently, saying she felt harassed by the man’s behavior. He allegedly told her in a message that she should be glad she was still alive.
His newer Facebook posts also were forwarded to investigators, according to EvCC. The man didn’t specify what might happen. The posts were vague and alluded to people getting hurt, but not where or when.
On Monday, Mukilteo and Everett police spoke with the man and determined that he hadn’t made any threats. He had no weapons, Mukilteo police officer Colt Davis said.
“He was not trying to cause any alarm to the community or to the female he wrote the messages to,” Davis said. “Detectives determined no crime has been committed, but the report was forwarded to the FBI for informational purposes.”
EvCC students were told about the messages over the weekend, and dozens expressed concerns about coming to school Monday. That spurred a flurry of social media speculation, including Twitter posts.
“We know that when messages like his get out on social media, they take on a life of their own,” said John Olson, a vice president at the college. “There were hundreds of postings over the last 18 hours.”
The college remained open Monday. It will be up to faculty to decide how missed classes will be handled.
Meanwhile, Lynnwood police on Monday also were dealing with rumors about potential school violence. College Place elementary and middle schools were put on lockdown after a third-hand report of someone nearby with a gun. Officers searched the area.
The incident was determined to be a false report by a juvenile, officials said. The school district was asked to follow up with the child.
Rikki King: 425-339-3449; rking@heraldnet.com.
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