Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Early College and Vista Academy in Green Valley Ranch are on lockout for a second consecutive day Thursday after authorities received a gang-related threat against the school on Wednesday.
Denver Public Schools spokesperson Will Jones said in an email that police received a report about a threat to both schools. Denver police and the Department of Safety are investigating. The tip came from Safe2Tell, an anonymous tip line allowing young people to safely report threats.
"Law enforcement officers have let us know that they have seen an increase in youth violence in Far Northeast Denver," Jones said in the email. "In the interest of student and staff safety, DPD and the Department of Safety will increase their presence in Far Northeast Denver today."
A lockout means exterior doors are locked and students and staff are required to stay inside the building from the start of the school day until the end, according to Jones. While schools continue to run normally inside, Jones said students are required to stay inside the building as police investigate.
The Safe2Tell program got a record number of tips in July, nearly doubling its numbers from last year. Overall, the program has witnessed a year-over-year increase during the 2018-19 school year.
