Alpine Independent School District and the Brewster County Sheriff’s Office are investigating a reported threat against Alpine High School, although district officials said Monday that preliminary findings suggest the report may have originated from an unsubstantiated rumor circulating among students.
The district announced Oct. 20 that school administrators and law enforcement received information about a possible threat after classes had ended for the day.
“Information gathered so far suggests this may be an unsubstantiated rumor passed from student to student,” the district said in a statement. “We have not identified an original threatening statement or found evidence substantiating a threat.”
Despite the lack of evidence confirming a threat, Alpine ISD said it would increase law enforcement presence at district campuses as a precaution while the investigation continues.
The announcement prompted a public response from Dan Haas, an administrator of the Facebook group “Alpine, What The f*$& Happened!?”, who said his son was the student at the center of the allegations.
Haas said he received a telephone call from the high school principal Monday evening informing him that a rumor was circulating that his son intended to carry out a school shooting.
Haas strongly rejected the allegation, saying his son had never expressed an interest in committing violence.
“I talk to my kids. I know we’re a weird family. But I do know he’s expressed no ideation towards anything of the sort,” Haas wrote.
Haas also said his family does not keep firearms in its home and that he believed it was highly unlikely his son could obtain one.
In his Facebook post, Haas alleged that the rumor was part of a broader pattern of bullying his son has experienced at Alpine High School.
He described an earlier incident during the current school year in which another student allegedly tampered with his son’s lunch. Haas said the family was informed that the school would follow up with his son, but that the promised follow-up never occurred.
Haas said the family still had not learned the identity of the student allegedly responsible for that incident.
He further alleged that another student had deliberately spread false information about his son, escalating the situation to the point of involving law enforcement.
“What I do also know is a fellow student has intentionally decided to defame my son,” Haas wrote.
He questioned whether the district was doing enough to address bullying and suggested that its response to previous incidents had been inadequate.
Haas also raised the possibility of consulting an attorney over the matter.
His allegations about bullying, the origins of the rumor and the district’s handling of previous complaints have not been independently verified.
The district’s public statement did not identify any student involved in the reported threat or address Haas’ specific allegations.
Alpine ISD emphasized that the investigation remains active despite the preliminary findings.
“Even so, we take every safety concern seriously and are continuing to investigate the information reported,” the district said.
The district also thanked local law enforcement agencies for their assistance and urged families to report safety concerns directly to campus administrators or law enforcement.
Haas concluded his post by encouraging parents to speak with their children about bullying, regardless of whether their children are experiencing it or participating in it.
“Anyways, talk to your kids,” Haas wrote. “And that’s regardless of which side of the bullying paradigm they’re on.”
As of Monday evening, the district had not publicly announced any evidence substantiating the reported threat. The investigation remained ongoing.
