Code Yellow Lockdown at Lincoln High School Resolved – Threat Deemed Non-Credible

WISCONSIN RAPIDS, WI (OnFocus) — On Wednesday morning, Lincoln High School (LHS) was placed under a Code Yellow precautionary lockdown following a report of a concerning message circulating within a Snapchat group involving students from the local community.

At approximately 10:45 a.m., a student notified LHS administration of a threatening message that referenced the potential for harm if students were dismissed from the building. In response, the Wisconsin Rapids Police Department (WRPD) school resource officer and school administrators initiated an immediate investigation, enacting Code Yellow protocols. During a Code Yellow, all hallways and common spaces are cleared, and students remain in classrooms with instruction continuing as usual.

The students who reported the threat were interviewed, and WRPD reviewed additional messages shared on Snapchat. By 11:25 a.m., authorities confirmed that the message originated from outside the state and was unrelated to LHS, leading to the lockdown being lifted to Code Green. The message, traced back to New York, has been deemed non-credible. Law enforcement in New York had already begun investigating the situation as part of a broader issue of similar Snapchat threats reported nationwide in recent weeks.

Superintendent Ronald A. Rasmussen addressed the community, emphasizing that at no point was a fire alarm pulled or the school placed under a Code Red emergency lockdown, correcting misinformation spreading on social media. Rasmussen expressed appreciation for the swift reporting by students and the cooperation of both staff and law enforcement, stating, “Our top priority in any emergency is ensuring the safety of our students and staff.”

Parents are reminded not to come to the school during emergency situations as it can interfere with response efforts. LHS and local law enforcement are committed to taking all reports of threats seriously, and safety protocols will remain a top priority in any future incidents.

For further questions, please contact Superintendent Ronald A. Rasmussen or the LHS administration.

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