The Liberty County Pct 3 Constable’s Office and the Hardin Independent School District are investigating an incident involving three reported “kill lists.” However, both entities say there was no immediate or credible threat to students.
According to a statement from the constable’s office, “On Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2018, five students in a Hardin Junior High School class jokingly asked each other who they would kill first in the classroom. The five jotted down names of fellow students in the classroom. Two students threw their lists away when leaving the class, but the other three did not.”
The following day, campus administrators were notified by a parent that their child had seen one of the “kill lists,” and that their child’s name was on it.
Hardin Junior High School, Hardin ISD and Liberty County Pct 3 Constable’s Office were all notified immediately. The parents of all students named on the lists were notified immediately.
“The authors of the lists were quickly identified and pulled from classes. The investigation into the incident determined the five seventh-graders were not aware of the gravity and seriousness in compiling such a list, even in a joking manner. All aspects of the five students’ actions were taken into account, including grade level, maturity level, past conduct history, any recent threats or statements indicating potential harmful actions, abilities and means available for the students to carry out any threat (as a group or individually), and the underlying intent or level of culpability when the students made their lists. Again, no immediate or credible threat was found,” the statement continues.
All five students have been suspended from school. All investigative matters involving the students and the lists are being submitted to the Liberty County Attorney’s Office to determine if criminal charges are warranted. Because the five Hardin Junior High School students are juveniles, their names are not being released.
Any further developments on this case will be released through the Liberty County Pct 3 Constable’s Office.