'Die-in' threat linked to school counselor probed

The Central Bucks School District and Montgomery County are investigating a threatening message, posted on social media, attributed to the accounts of a Central Bucks High School West employee.

The post, appearing on the Facebook and Twitter accounts of MaryKate Blankenburg, a guidance counselor at the high school, addressed potential protesters at the Eagles game Sunday.

"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!!" read the post.

Officials did not say whether Blankenburg was the author of the message attributed to the accounts. Efforts to reach Blankenburg were unsuccessful.

Demonstrators staged a peaceful "die-in" after the Eagles game Sunday night to protest killings by police, such as those of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo., and Eric Garner in Staten Island, N.Y.

Central Bucks Superintendent David Weitzel became aware of the post Sunday and said in a statement Monday that the school district was "responding with urgency and concern" to investigate it.

The district contacted the Bucks County District Attorney's Office, but upon learning that Blankenburg lives in Montgomery County, District Attorney David Heckler referred the case there, he said.

Weitzel said the school district would "take appropriate action" after learning the facts.

jmcdaniel@philly.com