BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Several students at Highland Park Elementary in Bloomington were sent threatening messages through social media, prompting an investigation by Monroe County law enforcement and additional security at the school.
The messages were reportedly sent anonymously and included violent threats, racial slurs and other offensive language. At least four students are believed to have received the messages, according to information provided by families familiar with the incident.
One Bloomington parent said her 12-year-old daughter, a sixth grader at Highland Park, received messages beginning over the weekend. What initially appeared to be an unknown or possibly fake account quickly became more disturbing as the sender allegedly began making threats against the students.
The accounts reportedly appeared to use the names or identities of students at the school, leading families to believe someone was attempting to impersonate actual students online.
After receiving the messages, the parent reported the account to the social media platform, which later suspended it. She also removed her daughter from TikTok, contacted school officials and filed a report with the Monroe County Sheriff’s Department.
The incident has left some families worried about their children’s safety, particularly because the identity of the person behind the accounts remains unclear.
Highland Park Elementary serves students from preschool through sixth grade and currently has an enrollment of about 300 students. The school is located at 900 S. Park Square Drive in Bloomington.
Monroe County Community School Corporation notified families about the situation and said additional security would be present at Highland Park during the week. The district also said there was no threat made directly against the school and that the reported messages had been turned over to local law enforcement for investigation.
Because the students involved are minors, school officials said they could not release additional details that could identify them.
The district has encouraged students and parents to report concerning social media activity rather than responding to or ignoring threatening messages. MCCSC currently provides an anonymous safety-reporting option through StopIt, which is available around the clock, while emergencies should be reported to 911.
For families, the incident is also a reminder that online threats can quickly move beyond social media and create real concerns for students and schools. Parents are being encouraged to talk with children about saving threatening messages, reporting suspicious accounts and involving a trusted adult when something feels unsafe.
The investigation into who created the accounts and sent the messages remains ongoing. Authorities and school officials have not publicly identified a suspect.
Students and families with information about the threatening messages are encouraged to report it to local law enforcement or school officials rather than attempting to confront the person responsible.
