“No credible threat” was the phrase repeated by school and law enforcement officials Friday morning after a jittery night on social media left many parents concerned and anxious over rumors that Lumpkin County High School had been targeted for a potential attack.
Just before 7:15 a.m. the Lumpkin County School System sent out a text reassuring parents and staff that the threat had been thoroughly investigated.
“At this time, we have determined that there are no credible threats targeting any LCSS school,” stated the text.
As a precaution the school system has also upped the law enforcement presence at local schools.
“Safety is, and always will be, our top priority in this school district,” stated the text. “We have increased police and district administrator presence on our campuses today as we focus on keeping our students and staff safe.”
Meanwhile, Sheriff Stacy Jarrard said he has been answering a steady stream of phone calls from concerned parents.
“All night and all morning,” he said.
In those conversations, Jarrard has essentially been saying the same thing as the school system as he’s attempted to reassure parents that all is well.
“Everything that has come in we have checked on,” he said. ”All these things that people are spreading around social media are not factual.”
The social media post in question is a screen shot of an assault rifle which included the words “Lumpkin HS has got a threat, [just saying] what I heard.”
The post, which has been shared far and wide, is particularly disturbing in the wake of Wednesday’s tragic shooting in Barrow County in which two teachers and two students were murdered and nine were injured.
However, Jarrard said the local worries stem from baseless rumors.
“My kids are at school. My wife is at the school,” he said. “And I feel completely fine with it being a normal day like other days. The only thing that’s not normal is the unfortunate event that is heavy on people’s heart of what took place at Barrow County. That is terrible and the people who are [posting] things that are not factual, to me this is just not right.”
Jarrard added that his School Resource Officers and school officials take the possibility of any attack seriously.
“We train for events, the school system trains for events and we hope we never have to put that training in motion,” he said. “We will do everything to protect the children of this community. I just wish people would trust us and stop falling prey to social media.”