Two juveniles accused of making threats against schools, over 40 threats across NC

NORTH CAROLINA ( QUEEN CITY NEWS ) – Authorities announced Tuesday two juveniles have been identified in connection to threats posted on social media against multiple NC schools.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools confirmed that over 40 schools across North Carolina had received threats and all have been determined not to be credible.

“ 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 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 enforcement 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. “

Authorities in Gaston County said an 11-year-old child has been identified and arrested. In Cleveland County, a 12-year-old child will be charged.

According to the Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office, they were made aware of several photos circulating social media of a person holding a firearm and making threats toward schools.

“We began to investigate immediately and were able to develop a potential suspect through an Instagram account,” the sheriff’s office said. “The investigation led to a physical address in Cleveland County where the suspect was found to be a juvenile.”

The sheriff’s office said it appears that the threats that were made were to avoid attending school, and not to carry out a physical act of violence.

Additional deputies were placed across Cleveland County campuses on Tuesday in response to the online threats. Authorities are still following leads to determine if others are involved.

“We would like to emphasize that all threats of this nature are taken seriously and investigated to the fullest,” the Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office said.

The juvenile suspect will be processed by the Department of Juvenile Justice and continued through the juvenile court proceedings, the Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office said.

In Gaston County, authorities said they arrested an 11-year-old child in connection with the threats posted on social media involving several local schools.

During their investigation, the 11-year-old admitted to posting the threats on social media. Gaston County Police said the child will be charged with multiple counts of Communicating Threats of Mass Violence on Educational Property.

Several agencies assisted including Gaston County Schools, Lowell Police, Cramerton Police, the Gaston County District Attorney’s Office, and NC SBI.

The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office also released a statement on Tuesday, saying several departments were aware of the threats that mentioned multiple schools.

“The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office is aware of recent social media posts suggesting threats of school shootings. These posts name a large number of schools across multiple counties. We are thoroughly investigating the posts and coordinating closely with the Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office and Gaston County Police Department. To ensure safety, we will be enhancing our presence at local schools and handling this situation with the highest level of seriousness.”

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