Student arrested after social media threat prompts Stratford ISD lockdown

Stratford Independent School District (ISD) briefly locked its campuses early Wednesday morning after district officials and law enforcement were alerted to a social media threat reportedly made by a student. The situation prompted swift action from school administrators and local police, leading to the student’s arrest within about 40 minutes.

According to a statement from Stratford ISD, the district was notified of the alleged threat at approximately 7:20 a.m. Campus doors were immediately secured, and district families received a message about a delayed start to classes and limited access to school buildings as a precaution.

District officials confirmed that the student believed to be responsible was arrested around 8 a.m. The arrest took place off campus, according to Superintendent Paul Uttley. Despite the quick resolution, campus doors remained locked until law enforcement issued an all-clear later in the morning.

While the initial message to parents described the situation as a lockout, updated communications clarified that students were not under full lockdown. Instead, they were “being kept in common locations” within the buildings while officials ensured the campuses were safe.

Classes officially resumed around 10 a.m., following confirmation from law enforcement that there was no ongoing threat.

In a statement released later Wednesday morning, Superintendent Uttley praised the response from school staff and law enforcement. “I want to thank the principal for her swift notification this morning. I want to also thank our law enforcement for their response. The individual was apprehended quickly (off campus),” Uttley said. “I realize these types of situations are terrifying, and I thank you for your understanding during this time. Finally, thank you to our staff for responding and taking care of our students.”

The district emphasized that student safety remains its top priority and that protocols in place for potential threats worked as intended. Officials did not release details about the nature of the social media post or the student’s identity, citing the ongoing investigation and privacy laws concerning minors.

As of Wednesday afternoon, Stratford ISD had returned to normal operations. The district said it will continue to cooperate with law enforcement and review safety procedures to ensure campuses remain secure in the future.