Gasconade County R-2 school officials are still working to identify suspects (potentially three) connected to a district shooting threat on Dec. 16 that resulted in Dec. 17 classes being cancelled.

Superintendent Dr. Jeri Kay Hardy said Monday morning that building administrators are still conducting interviews to in an attempt to discover who wrote threatening speech on restroom walls in the far north portion of the building connected to the math and science hallways.

There are definitely two different handwriting styles,” Hardy said. “The boys bathroom had two threats, two different sets of handwriting and another on the girls wall.”

Owensville High School Principal Kris Altemeyer and Assistant Principal John Bunch have been conducting interviews with students who used the restroom facilities in the north wing of the high school. There were 246 students observed entering the restrooms, but Hardy said a little over 90 students were being interviewed because some used the restroom more than once.

“Mr. Bunch and Mr. Altemeyer are conducting those interviews and the school resource officer has their own outside investigation,” Hardy said.

Hardy said Dec. 20 that they hoped to have the suspects identified before Christmas break, but the timing didn’t line out.

“They can’t question kids who aren’t there,” Hardy said on Jan. 3. “They are going through the list and questioning those who were in and out (of the restrooms).”

A district-wide letter went out on Dec. 16 to inform students and parents of a nation-wide Tik Tok video encouraging a Dec. 17 national school shooting day. At the time of the letter’s release Hardy said that the district had not received a direct threat.

By 1:15 p.m. on Dec. 17, the situation had changed as threats were reportedly written on both the girls and boys restroom walls. 

A student shared pictures of the threat to his parent who then posted on Owensville, Mo., Talk Facebook page. The post has since been removed.

Administrators were informed of the threat at 2:27 p.m. via Missouri State Highway Patrol’s (MSHP) Courage to Share tip line.

“That is a little concerning,” Hardy said during a Dec. 20 school board meeting. “I wish that if that happens and you don’t want to contact the administration then call the police. I wasn’t alerted until 2:27 p.m. and it was posted at 1:15 p.m. by Courage to Report.”

District officials, along with local law enforcement and a representative from MSHP, used the morning of Dec. 17 to do a sweep of all buildings in the district. No threats were found.

While the investigation continues, district administrators are doing all they can to learn how to prevent future threats.

“Teachers and staff had a professional development training day Monday with MSHP officials about how to be more aware,” Hardy said. “We had training for teachers today to make them more aware,” she said. “This is ongoing with MSHP and law enforcement.”

Safety wasn’t the only item on the agenda.

“We had different presenters for curriculum, instruction, and assessment,” Hardy said. “From school safety to bringing PE into the classroom, mental health awareness and technology training.”

The board of education was also providing lunch at the high school to all staff members working in the district. They were serving ham and turkey as part of a build-your-own sandwich, and cookies.

“It’s their way to give back to the teachers,” Hardy said.

She added that law enforcement warned them the investigation may stall after the interviews are completed.

“We may not learn anything for a while and all of a sudden someone has a tip,” Hardy said.

Classes were scheduled to resume today (Wednesday) following the district’s holiday break.