A guidance counselor at Central Bucks West High School is under fire for allegedly threatening protesters outside Lincoln Financial Field via a Facebook post that said she would shoot anyone who got in the way of her child attending the Eagles game. NBC10’s Doug Shimell is in Doylestown with the latest.
The Central Bucks School District is investigating whether a guidance counselor posted a threat on social media against "die-in" protesters demonstrating Sunday outside Lincoln Financial Field. The counselor has since been placed on leave with pay, district officials said.
"If my child cannot get to the Eagles game due to protesters, I will personally SHOOT every one of them. You've been warned idiots!!" is how the message allegedly posted by MaryKate Blankenburg read. She is an 11th grade counselor at Central Bucks West High School.
The threat was focused on the 200 or so demonstrators that sought to disrupt traffic coming from the Philadelphia Eagles game as they protested against racism in the wake of the police-involved deaths of black men Michael Brown and Eric Garner.
The post, which appears to have been written on Facebook, was quickly shared on other social media platforms Sunday, sparking outrage. The Facebook account where the message allegedly came from no longer exists.
Central Bucks School District Superintendent Dr. David Weitzel tells NBC10 the district is aware the message appears to have been posted through Blankenburg's account and that they are investigating.
"Responding with urgency and concern, we immediately began an investigation, including verification of the source of the post, and we will take appropriate action once we learn all of the facts," Weitzel said in a statement.
The district said they've also contact the district attorney's office which is investigating as well.
Local
Breaking news and the stories that matter to your neighborhood.
"As a teacher, you have a responsibility to set an example to the rest of the students and the staff at the school," student George Byers said.
NBC10 reached out to Blankenburg by phone and at her Upper Gwynedd Township, Pennsylvania home, but have not heard back. Detectives with the Montgomery County District Attorney's Office also visited the woman's home on Monday.
Blankenburg has not been charged with a crime.
This incident isn't the only controversy the district and high school have dealt with this school year.
Officials canceled the end of Central Bucks West's football season and suspended the coaches after hazing rituals against rookies were uncovered. The Bucks County District Attorney declined to file criminal charges in that case.
