A school death threat, police delays and a lack of transparency: Our 2-part investigation

The Delaware State Police press release was short.

“Troopers arrest suspect for threat made to elementary school,” the subject line read. Three short paragraphs followed about a late-October incident at Academia Antonia Alonso Charter School.

The release said an “anonymous subject” made “a threatening comment” toward the school. What it didn’t say was that it took nearly 80 minutes for police to arrive after the caller threatened death to students and the school’s executive director.

It didn’t mention that the call came minutes before dismissal. And it didn’t say that in the time it took police to respond, a dean was accosted, staff was berated and a group of parents shoved their way into the school’s front office.

Reconstructing what happened

Through numerous interviews with school administrators, parents, experts and members of Delaware State Police, a review of audio recordings and school surveillance video, and a fight to obtain 911 audio, Delaware Online/The News Journal reconstructed the events that day, examining what led to the slow police response – and what has and has not been done since then. Read the two-part series here.

Got a tip? Send to Isabel Hughes at ihughes@delawareonline.com or 302-324-2785. For all things breaking news, follow her on Twitter at @izzihughes_