UPDATED: Police investigating threat of violence at daycares in San Marcos

Sierra Martin | Managing Editor

UPDATE: This article was updated at 11:13 a.m. to provide additional information provided by the Hays County Sheriff’s Office. 

SAN MARCOS — On Wednesday, June 8, 2022, the San Marcos Police Department (SMPD) received information from Crime Stoppers that an anonymous tip had been submitted regarding a threat to invoke violence at a “daycare in San Marco.” According to SMPD, the threat was made on a chat feature of a gaming platform.

Local authorities said the threat did not name a specific daycare and have responded to the threat by stationing armed police officers at all known daycare facilities in the area. SMPD is working with the FBI and partner agencies to identify the source of the threat.

The Hays County Sheriff’s Office said they have posted deputies at each daycare near the San Marcos area and will remain at the daycare facilities until the validity of the threat is determined.

According to SMPD, the threat did not specify a location, and at least three cities across the country were identified as potential targets of the threat in an abundance of caution, including San Marcos, Texas and San Marcos, California, and San Marco, Florida. Law enforcement agencies in all of the identified locations have been contacted and are taking steps to protect their communities.

SMPD said they are taking the threat seriously and have an armed peace officer at all known daycare facilities registered with the state of Texas.

“The decision whether to pick a child up from their daycare is a personal decision each parent must make based on all of the information available,” SMPD said in a statement.

According to SMPD, armed peace officers will remain at all known daycare facilities in San Marcos during operating hours on Wednesday, June 8, or until a suspect has been apprehended. If an arrest has not been made by Thursday, June 9, an update will be provided to the community.

SMPD asks for people who notice suspicious activity to call 911.

Corridor News will provide updates as they are made available.