Chief Richard D. Howe
20 Westford Road
Tyngsborough, MA 01879
For Immediate Release
Monday, May 16, 2016
Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: john@jgpr.net
Tyngsborough Police Investigating Racist Written Messages and Social Media Postings at Academy of Notre Dame
TYNGSBOROUGH — Chief Richard D. Howe reports that the Tyngsborough Police Department is investigating a series of racist and racially insensitive social media postings and at least one written message appearing to target minority students at both the Academy of Notre Dame Lower Pre K-8 and Upper 9-12 schools.
In a typed and printed message discovered in a bathroom at the Lower School, nonspecific threats were made against black students, making reference to something occurring on May 17, 2016.
Tyngsborough Police are conducting an active investigation, and detectives are consulting with the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office to determine the best course of action for the investigation and what charges to levy against the potential suspect or suspects.
Out of an abundance of caution, school administrators have decided to cancel school tomorrow, May 17.
“We do not believe there is a credible threat against the school, but we are conducting an active and ongoing investigation at this time,” Chief Howe said.
Other offensive messages have also been posted to Instagram and Twitter, targeting the Upper School, over the past several months. Investigators are reaching out to officials at Facebook Inc., which owns Instagram, and Twitter. Tyngsborough Police first opened an investigation into the social media postings in February, and the investigation remains ongoing. The typed and printed message is the first piece of material presented to police.
If anyone has any information about these incidents, they are urged to contact Tyngsborough Police at 978-649-7504.
The Academy of Notre Dame consists of a private, Catholic, co-educational Pre-K through Grade 8 lower school and a high school for young women. The campus is located on Middlesex Road in Tyngsborough.
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