COLUMBUS, Neb. -- Following an investigation of threats made at a middle school, the Columbus Police Department determined the comments were "non-credible" according to CPD Capt. Doug Molczyk.

Around 7:37 a.m., Tuesday, Sept. 11, CPD officers responded to Columbus Middle School in reference to a verbal threat of violence that was going to happen the same day. 

CPD officers said they investigated by interviewing persons of interest, and concluded that the comments made were non-credible before turning the situation over to Columbus Public Schools. 

"The Columbus Police Department would like to stress to the community that when you hear something, you need to say something," Molczyk said. "This helps us investigate the issues immediately. If you have information regarding possible issues, you can contact the Columbus Police Department at 402-564-3201, or if it is an emergency, use 911."

Authorities said that Columbus Public Schools issued an alert notifying middle school parents of the situation Tuesday morning, and later provided an update. 

Press release: 

Since then, CPD has continued to work alongside Columbus Public Schools into investigating threats while simultaneously addressing misinformation and concerning posts that were spreading through the community via social media.

“Overnight we identified one subject who had made a threat on social media directed at the Columbus Public Schools,” Molczyk said. “Officers from the Columbus Police Department interviewed the subject who stated that it was just a joke and this subject was subsequently cited for terroristic threats.”

CPS also released a statement on its website Thursday morning addressing the matter, notifying parents that students at Columbus Middle and High schools could be subject to having their backpacks searched at random throughout the school day. There was additional law enforcement presence at schools Sept. 12.