WAVERLY, IA — Police in Waverly say they have identified a male juvenile as the person behind a disturbing social media post that was sent to students in the Waverly-Shell Rock Community School District on Sunday night.

The post prompted a fast-moving response from the Waverly Police Department, school officials and the Butler County Sheriff’s Department after a call came in at about 7:13 p.m. Sunday. Investigators spent the evening trying to determine the message’s legitimacy, its intent and where it originated.

Officials said the student responsible for the message does not currently have access to firearms and was not in school Monday. The sheriff’s department will handle the next phase of the investigation, while police said they will continue helping and will add extra patrols during the week.

How the threatening message spread through district families

According to the district’s notice to families, the message had been circulating among students and parents by late Sunday evening. It included an image that appeared to show a firearm, along with the words, “Don’t come to school tomorrow.”

The email from Superintendent David Hill said school officials and law enforcement quickly identified the source of the message and made direct contact with the students and families involved. Hill said the individual connected to the message would not be present at school the next day.

The district also asked families not to spread the image further or speculate about it while the investigation continued. Anyone with firsthand information was urged to pass it directly to law enforcement, and questions about the case were directed to the Butler County Sheriff’s Office.

Police and school officials worked together Sunday night

The Waverly Police Department said it partnered with district leaders and Butler County deputies through the evening to sort out what happened. Officials were trying to learn whether the message was credible, what the person behind it meant to communicate and how it spread so quickly.

That response continued into Monday, when Hill also appeared on radio to speak about the situation. Police said they would stay involved in the investigation and maintain added patrols to help reassure students, staff and families.

The district’s communication made clear that its leaders were treating the matter seriously, but it also said there was no information suggesting an elevated safety risk at schools Monday. Instead, officials focused on preventing rumor-driven panic while law enforcement examined the facts.

District says there was no sign of elevated risk Monday

In the message sent to families, Hill said contacts made Sunday night did not point to a higher safety threat for the next school day. Even so, the district planned an increased law enforcement presence at Waverly-Shell Rock Middle School and Waverly-Shell Rock High School as a precaution.

The school system said safety remained its top priority and that administrators would keep working with law enforcement as the investigation moved ahead. The message also told families that additional information would be shared when appropriate.

Hill’s note acknowledged the anxiety that can come with a post that appears to show a weapon and includes a direct warning not to come to school. The district said that concern was understood and that it would continue taking protective steps for students and staff.

Butler County Sheriff's Department takes over further investigation

Police said the Butler County Sheriff’s Department will handle the continuing investigation into the post. Waverly officers will remain available to assist, but the sheriff’s office will lead the follow-up work from here.

Officials have not said what consequences, if any, may follow for the juvenile involved. They also did not describe any criminal charges in the information released Sunday night and Monday.

The key immediate points, police said, are that the student has no current access to firearms and was not attending school Monday. Those facts helped officials move quickly to put safety measures in place while the case is reviewed further.

Superintendent urges families to avoid rumors and send tips to police

Hill’s message asked families to keep the image from circulating and not to draw conclusions from speculation. The district said firsthand information should be shared with law enforcement instead of online chatter or retelling among students and parents.

That request reflected the broader effort to calm concerns while still treating the message as an active investigation. The district said it would continue working closely with police and would update families if more details became available.

For now, the most visible change for students and staff is the added law enforcement presence at the middle school and high school. Officials said that extra precaution is meant to support a safe school day while the sheriff’s department continues its work.