Students respond to false threats at Millard South High School

OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) – Students were shocked after a threat at Millard South High School brought back bad memories for some.

Once the situation was deemed no longer a threat, many parents came to pick up their children and leave for the day. That was the case for several sisters, sophomore Miliana Reed and senior Mariah Miller.

It took a while for Mom to calm down because she knew what happened at Millard South over a decade ago.

“She was terrified,” Mariah said. “From beginning to end, she knew about the principal and what had happened.”

In 2011, a Millard South student who was suspended for destroying the track and football field with his car returned to school with a gun. He burst into the deputy principal’s office and fatally shot Vicki Kaspar. The teenager shot the principal three times and escaped.

“My mom was going to school around that time,” Mariah said. “She knew exactly what happened. She told us about it. She said, “I don’t want that to happen again for you girls.”

When Monday’s threat reached the school, 2,400 students immediately began implementing the plan. Go to the safe room and wait for the police to do their job. Previous generations prepared for a possible nuclear war. This generation is preparing for school shootings.

Some students had a more recent story in mind. Just last month, a 14-year-old was arrested for shooting another student at Omaha Northwest High School.

“Everyone took it seriously,” Miliana said. “It’s scary because it happened in the Northwest. Terrible things.”

Ultimately, the superintendent ruled it was a hoax and that everyone was safe. After the lockdown ended, classes resumed but many parents picked up their children and took them home. Omaha police are still investigating where the first call came from.

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