A press release issued by New Richland Chief of Police Scott Eads read, "Members of the police department responded to the school and, along with school administration, checked the school’s surveillance system for activity and conducted interviews throughout the afternoon of students and staff observed near the particular area prior to the message being discovered. Finally, school staff conducted locker searches while members of the New Richland Police Department searched publicly accessible areas and visually inspected the interiors of vehicles parked near the building. No weapons were observed or found during these searches. At approximately 2:40pm it was determined that no threat was present and students would have a standard dismissal at the regular time. Members of the police department monitored both the interior and exterior of the school facility during the dismissal and subsequent loading and unloading of buses. The investigation regarding this matter is still open and on-going and further information will be provided when available."