Celebration’s of the anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks took a grim turn at Triton High School Friday after the threat of a shooting spread on several social media outlets.
Erwin Police Chief Bill Morris said officers began getting calls Thursday night that someone was threatening to conduct a shooting on Facebook, Twitter and other social media sites.
Chief Morris said his officers, in conjunction with investigators from the Harnett County Sheriff’s office spent much of Thursday night trying to track down leads. They were talking to any students who have seen posts stating that there would be a shooting at the school some time during the school day Friday.
“It just went from one child, to another and it became almost viral at the school,” Mr. Morris said. “We don’t know if there will be charges at this point and we are still digging into it.”
Mr. Morris said no credible evidence of a planned shooting was found at the school. Extra officers were on duty at the school during the day to insure the safety of students.
Harnett County Schools Director of Public Relations Patricia Harmon Lewis said because the building was found safe before school started it was an ordinary day at the school. She said there were a number of parents who keep their children home.
“We understand parents concern for their children’s safety,” Mrs. Harmon Lewis said. “They have the right to do what they want with their children.” A parent said her daughter reported several students leaving the school without parental permission on Friday. Story courtesy The Daily Record
