RAPID CITY, S.D.(KBHB) – Law enforcement in Rapid City say a social media message circulating among students depicting a firearm led to a secure status at several area schools Thursday.

The Pennington County Sheriff’s Office says the message was received shortly after 11:00 Thursday morning.

Dustin Morrison is Captain of Investigations with the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office. He says the secure status began at Stevens High School where the embedded School Resource Officer immediately placed the school on secure status. Shortly after, West Middle School was also put on secure status as a precaution. As an added precaution, other Rapid City Area School schools placed themselves on secure status at their own discretion.

He says by 2:00 p.m., all secure status was lifted and law enforcement reported an individual had been detained.

Morrison says threats on social media pose challenges to law enforcement.

During a secure status, no one is allowed to enter or leave the building and there is increased law enforcement presence.

Rapid City Area Schools says all students and staff are safe and an investigation into the incident was ongoing.