UPDATE 9/10/24 8:00PM
The Cleveland County Sheriff’s Department says they found a 12-year-old who made threats to multiple schools.
Deputies became aware of photos “circulating through social media of a person holding and a subsequently communicating threats toward schools”.
Deputies say they found the suspect through an Instagram account. After an interview, investigators say it appears the threats were made to avoid going to school, not to carry out a physical act of violence.
The juvenile suspect will be processed by the Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) and continued through the juvenile court proceedings.
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The Gaston County Police Department has identified and arrested an 11-year-old in connection with the threats posted on social media involving several Gaston County area schools.
During the investigation, the 11-year-old admitted to posting the threats on social media. The suspect will be charged with multiple counts of communicating threats of mass violence on educational property.
Several agencies assisted in this investigation including Gaston County Schools, Lowell Police Department, Cramerton Police Department, the Gaston County District Attorney’s Office, and NC SBI.
No further information will be released due to the suspect’s age. There are no active threats at any Gaston County Schools.
CMS released the following statement:
Unfortunately, when acts of school violence occur, in the days and weeks afterwards, school districts, including Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, receive an increase in the number of threat reports. It’s difficult to determine if these are from TikTok or any other social media platforms. While we have seen an increase in reports, we have our own dedicated Police Department that works closely with local law enforcement agencies to assess each of these reports. Today, law enforcement stated that over 40 schools in North Carolina received threats and all have been determined to not be credible.
In addition to having our own police department, we also have additional safety measures which include walk-through security scanners, our Say Something reporting app, and our dedication to creating a nurturing and supportive environment for our staff and students.
We remind families and students to use the “Say Something” app for anonymous reporting of any concerns or suspicious activity. Using this reporting system and/or telling a trusted adult at school, or in law enfrocement are the most efficient ways to communicate concerns. This allows us to make an assessment and alert law enforcement. We encourage everyone to continue coming together as a supportive community. Your vigilance plays a crucial role in maintaining a safe school environment.
Original Story
Due to an ambiguous messages on the social media platform TikTok involving school safety, multiple schools in Gaston, Cleveland, Lincoln and Mecklenburg counties are increasing their security presence.
North Belmont Elementary posted the following on their Facebook page.
The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office has reiterated the Facebook post and is investigating the posts.
The Gaston County Police say there is no active threat to any school listed in the social media post, which named many schools as school shooting targets.
WCCB has reached out to the schools for further information. Check back for updates.
