Webster Police, school district investigate ‘kill list’

WEBSTER, N.Y. – Savannah Sbaiti got a call from her child’s principal Tuesday.

She did not expect what she heard next.

“The first thing she prefaced was my child was not in trouble and my child is safe and that they found a ‘kill list’ from another student with my child’s name on it and other children’s names on it as well,” she said.

“My first thought was, scared. I was also angry,” Sbaiti said.

The list was discovered Tuesday. On Thursday, Webster Police and Webster Central School District told News10NBC that the threat was not credible and no crime happened.

News10NBC’s Berkeley Brean: “Who called it a ‘kill list?’ You called it a kill list or the principal did?”

Savannah Sbaiti of Webster: “The principal.”

Brean: “The principal called it a ‘kill list.'”Sbaiti: “Yes.”

But Sbaiti says she is prepared to pull her son out of school.

“I’m worried that my son and other students will not be safe at school,” said Sbaiti.

The school didn’t share the list with Sbaiti, but in emails she shared with News10NBC, the school told her it is using the Comprehensive School Threat Assessment Guidelines built by the University of Virginia. They incorporate a detailed checklist, including a series of questions for the child accused of making the threat.

The principal emailed Sbaiti saying they don’t have a time for when the student who made the list will return to school.

Brean: “So you’re concerned that this student is going to come back to school?”

Savannah Sbaiti, Webster: “Yes.”

Brean: “And if that happens, what are you prepared to do?”

Sbaiti: “I’ll be taking my child out.”

Brean: “How is your child doing right now?”

Sbaiti: “He’s fearless. So you ask him how he’s doing and he says he’s not afraid. But, he wonders. He wonders about his safety.”

At 3 p.m. Thursday, the principal of Sbaiti’s school emailed families telling them the Webster Police closed their investigation and reminded them how important it is to talk to their children about reporting something if they see something.

“We take every report of inappropriate comments or actions seriously and immediately respond with a thorough investigation,” Principal Kate Hesla wrote.

The school learned about the list Tuesday through a tip to the school’s Safe School Helpline.