Dear Parents/Guardians,

The Clark County School District and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department are contacting parents to inform them of the dangerous connection between texting and parties.

It has become very common for young people to text each other the location of a party. Unfortunately, these texts often get forwarded to uninvited guests, causing large numbers of people—including gang members—to arrive. These out-of-control events are referred to as “text parties.”

Recently the LVMPD Gang Crimes Bureau has responded to 28 text parties that ended in violence. Several of these incidents involved stabbings and shootings, and one resulted in a homicide. Some of these parties started out as innocent private birthday gatherings, while others occurred when the parents were absent. In all of these cases, however, the violence stemmed from the arrival of uninvited guests who learned of the event in a text message.

As a parent, you need to be aware of this alarming trend. Please talk to your children and warn them about the dangers of text parties.

Here are some tips you may want to consider:

• If the location of a party has been widely texted, advise your children to not attend.

• Tell your child to never text party information.

• Advise your children to stay with their friends and avoid parties for strangers.

• Remember that you are responsible for any parties at your residence.

• If you have any information about a text party, please report it to the police.

• Be aware that the LVMPD will be taking the necessary enforcement actions to shut down these types of parties.

On behalf of the Clark County School District and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, thank you for talking with your children and doing your part to ensure a safe community.

Sincerely,

CCSD Superintendent Walt Rulffes
and
Sheriff Douglas C. Gillespie