Students, staff and faculty at Cherokee County Schools were on edge last week after threats of violence and one false alarm occurred at different campuses on three out of five school days.
Threats were made affecting Murphy Middle School on Sept. 10 and Andrews High School on Sept. 11, with a false alarm about gunshots in the area around the Schools of Innovation & Technology in Peachtree on Friday.
Murphy Middle was among about 40 schools throughout the western half of the state that were caught up in a false shooting report spread through social media on Sept. 10. The N.C. Information Sharing & Analysis Center said it was aware of a shooting threat affecting multiple school districts in North Carolina.
“The threat was communicated via social media and listed over 40 North Carolina schools. Some schools had dates listed next to them,” the statement reads. “Law enforcement has determined there is no credible threat,” adding that the source behind the threats was identified and “intervention has been conducted.”
Cherokee County officials echoed those findings. The threats were investigated and found not to be credible, school board member Jeff Tatham told the Cherokee Scout.
“The district has also posted on Facebook information concerning the threats. I believe MMS (Murphy Middle School) was named in a part of a nationwide threat that has been determined to not be credible. From there the rumor mill also said it also named MHS (Murphy High School), which I believe is not accurate,” Tatham said.
“As for the Andrews reports, those were also determined to not be credible, and the district also made Facebook posts addressing those. As an AHS (Andrews High School) parent, I also received an all-call.”
Is there a plan for what to do if these threats become commonplace?
“That’s a good question, and I don’t have an answer for that,” Tatham said. “I would think we would continue to do what we’re doing – taking all threats seriously and assuming they are legit until the investigation of them proves otherwise, continue to follow current procedures to keep schools locked and ‘buzz’ people in through the front, etc.
“I think the important part is making sure we are transparent with the public and communicate. I, for one, will be asking that we look into purchasing metal detectors for each school. It is also important that this factors into our long range discussions and future grant applications – new school construction needs to be built with as little entrances and exits as possible.”
Regional problem
On Sept. 10, an 11-year-old and a 12-year-old were accused of making threats via social media to 40 schools in western North Carolina – including Cherokee County – Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools told WSOC-TV news. The post consisted of a photo of someone holding a gun and making threats toward schools. Investigators believe the two wanted to avoid going to school.
The threat was spread on Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat and perhaps other platforms. The children were tracked down via their Instagram accounts.
Later that morning, Cherokee County Schools issued a statement on Facebook:
“This post is to make you aware of a situation that was brought to the attention of school administration and personnel on the morning of Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024. …
“Upon receiving the information, district and school officials fully investigated the social media post. After utilizing multiple resources, law enforcement determined there is no credible threat. Furthermore, the source has been identified and intervention has been conducted. Please know that school safety is the number one priority for both students and staff. This information is being shared for situational awareness. Thank you all for your support.”
The next day, Sept. 11, Andrews high and elementary schools were put on lockdown for a new threat. The two campuses are across the street from each other.
“Today, we received an anonymous tip through the See Something, Say Something app regarding a potential threat,” Andrews High announced on its Facebook page, with Andrews Elementary posting something similar. “Out of an abundance of caution, we implemented a Code Yellow lockdown to ensure the safety of our students and staff while the situation was thoroughly assessed. After a careful review, the threat was determined to be non-credible, and the Code Yellow was lifted. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation as we prioritize the safety of our school community.”
Then on Friday, authorities went to the Schools of Innovation in response to reports of gunfire. However, the gunfire was thought to have been from dove hunters.
School safety
Coincidentally, school officials met with local law enforcement leaders last week for a scheduled safety review.
“This is an annual meeting to review concerns and assure a continued proactive approach to school safety,” the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office posted on Facebook.
“Sheriff (Dustin) Smith encourages you to discuss your school’s safety plan with your children to ensure they understand the procedures in place should an emergency arise,” according to the post. “Make sure your child knows how to report suspicious activity and know threats through apps or 911. If you see something, say something.
“Along with this, remember to teach your children to treat each other with dignity and respect. Be mindful of those left out and not included, and be a friend to someone that might need one.”
Many mass school shootings have been committed by students who were outcasts or who didn’t fit in.
What to do
Threats made to schools are taken very seriously by law enforcement and educational institutions. If you have information about a specific threat, please share it with the authorities immediately.
In the event of a threat:
1. Remain calm and follow instructions from school administrators or law enforcement officials.
2. If you’re a parent, follow the school’s communication plan for updates.
3. If you’re a student, report any concerns or information to a trusted adult or authority figure.
Remember, safety is always top priority.