In 2024, a 14-year-old opened fire at his high school in Georgia, killing and wounding students and teachers. Law enforcement later revealed that anonymous tips had been received months earlier about online threats the student allegedly made, but investigators didn’t have enough evidence to act at the time.

We all know about the horrific tragedy that took place in our home state at Oxford High School in 2021. A later independent investigation found that the school failed to conduct a proper threat assessment of the shooter, despite warning signs such as violent drawings, writings like “blood everywhere,” and behavior that should have triggered more action.

The more we can speak up and call out red flags, the more likely it will lead to intervention. This year in Houston, two teenage girls were arrested for plotting an attack on a school involving bombs and guns. That plot was uncovered after authorities traced online threats and coordinated quickly with law enforcement.

In many cases of targeted school violence, peers already knew something was off. Nearly 70 percent of would-be attackers had shared their intent with peers before violence occurred. Yet many students don’t report what they see, sometimes because they doubt that school staff or law enforcement will take it seriously.

Why Reporting Matters and How to Do It Safely

1. Many Tragedies are Preventable

The U.S. Secret Service’s review of averted school attack plots showed that in almost all cases, there were intervention points. Schools, communities, and law enforcement can disrupt planning stages if they receive credible reports early enough.

2. Anonymous Tip Lines Help Lower the Barrier

Because teens often hesitate to report something that could “get someone in trouble,” many schools use anonymous tip lines. Here in West Michigan, Silent Observer’s Speak Up Cash Out program gives students anonymity and potentially a cash incentive to report threats, concerning behavior, and information on crimes already committed in school communities.

3. Trust Matters

Students are more likely to report red flags if they trust school staff and feel their concerns will be taken seriously. Schools need to cultivate an environment where students believe they’ll be heard, not punished, for raising concerns.

4. Parents and Teens Have a Role

• For Teens: If you notice something concerning, such as threatening messages, changes in behavior, hints of weapon interest, please speak up. If you have information about a crime that’s already been committed at your school or in your community, report it. Use trusted teachers, counselors, or anonymous tip lines. You don’t have to carry the weight of the decision alone.
• For Parents: Encourage your child to speak up and assure them you’ll support them if they do. Talk with your school about what reporting tools and protocols they have in place.

Parents, Ask Your Children:

• Do you know how to report concerns in your school (anonymously or otherwise)?
• Would you feel comfortable coming to me, or someone else you trust, with something serious?

Students, Remember:

Your voice is powerful. If something feels wrong, speaking up could redirect a path toward help or intervention. You never know, what you report might end up saving lives.

Silent Observer’s mission is about creating a safe way for people to report critical information on crime. For more information on Silent Observer’s Speak Up Cash Out Program, visit our website at silentobserver.org.