Local, state police, and federal law enforcement are investigating a post on social media threatening a "hail of bullets" in East Lyme. The post, which appeared anonymously Dec. 24 on the mobile app Yik Yak, said East Lyme should "get ready for the hail of bullets."
The person behind the post claimed to have been bullied and said, "After break I'm going to let all my anger out." East Lyme students are scheduled to return Jan. 5 from the winter break.
Police Sgt. Joseph San Juan said unspecified security precautions will be put in place.
This is not the first threat to come from the social media app. Yik Yak, launched in 2013, has been used as a way to discover local meetings or events in an area. Using the hyper-localized app, users can post anonymously to others who are within a 1.5mile radius. Posts are known as 'Yaks'.
While users like the localized forum to share jokes and pop cultural news, the anonymity of the app has bread a series of security threats. Colleges including the University of Albany, Pennsylvania State University, University of Nebraska-Kearney, Towson University, University of Georgia, University of Southern Mississippi, and Norwich Universityhave suffered threats or taken action against the app.
The University of Connecticuthas not discussed banning the app but has been paying attention to Yik Yak’s posts.
Yik Yak has recognized how this social media platform can be used, and has geofenced all high schools in the US – making the app unusable on their campuses.
In East Lyme, school officials are treating the threat seriously and are working closely with local law enforcement to ensure student safety.
This report includes information from The Associated Press.
