Parents Remain on Edge After Potential Hit List Discovered at West Lincoln Middle

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 LINCOLNTON, NC – Parents remain on edge  after the discovery of a potential hit list inside a local school.

“It’s your child’s life. You only get one shot with it. Someone could walk up and take it away in a minute,” says stepmom Pamela Irvin. 

Irwin wasn’t taking any chances Wednesday. She kept her 8th Grade stepson home from West Lincoln Middle. A phone call from the school alerted the family Tuesday that the boy was one of five students on a potential hit list. 

“He’s kind of mixed about it. He said he wasn’t worried, and then he is worried, you know. So, he wanted to stay home today and we agreed,” Irwin says. 

Someone discovered the list near a trash can inside a boy’s bathroom. 

“We’ve asked him did he have anybody that was picking on him, has he picked on anyone or anything, and he said no, he doesn’t know of any enemies. If he has one he doesn’t know, so he’s concerned why his name is on there,” Irwin explains. 

Extra patrols surrounded the school Wednesday. Lieutenant Tim Johnson, with the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office says the department is working to reassure parents and students. 

“We always want to take it seriously because we never know if it’s going to be, if it’s true or not,” Johnson says.

Investigators are reviewing surveillance video from a camera near the bathroom and are interviewing students.

“This is just another instance where we just have to be careful. Make sure we follow up and do what we need to do,” Johnson explains.

Irwin says she wants to see more security. Right now, there are only resource officers at high schools in Lincoln County. 

“I think it needs to be in elementary and in middle school because there are problems in both, it’s not just high school,” Irwin says. 

WCCB Charlotte went by the Lincoln County Schools’ District Office. We were told a spokesperson wasn’t available to give an interview or statement.