Student made threat about bringing weapon to school in Lexington County, officials say
There was an extra law enforcement presence at a Lexington County school Wednesday after a student made a threat about bringing a weapon to the campus, officials said.
The threat targeting Lexington High School was not considered to be credible, but the additional precaution was taken, Interim Principal Ann O’Cain said in a letter to parents. The Lexington 1 school is on U.S. 1/Augusta Highway.
Specific information about the threat, and if anyone at Lexington High was specifically targeted, was not available.
No injuries were reported.
It was late Tuesday night when the school’s resource officer and administrators investigated a report that a student made a statement on social media about bringing a weapon to school, O’Cain said. Tuesday was an e-learning day at Lexington High as the school building was closed because of severe weather in the area.
The student was identified, and both school administrators as well as law enforcement are continuing to investigate, according to the letter. The student’s name and age were not made public.
O’Cain said officials have been in contact with the student’s parents, but there was no word if any criminal charges were filed or if the student is being held by a law enforcement agency.
The Lexington County Sheriff’s Department declined to comment, saying it’s continuing to investigate the incident.
Information about why the student made the threat was not available.
In the letter, O’Cain reminded students that a state law was passed in 2018 that makes it “unlawful for a student of a school or college in this state to make threats to take the life of or to inflict bodily harm upon another by using any form of communication whatsoever.”
There was no word on any punishment the student could face from the district or school.
Even though the threat was deemed not to be credible, O’Cain said all reports are taken seriously, and the district wants “a safe and nurturing environment” for students and employees.
“We are very thankful for our students who consistently demonstrate that they understand the importance of school safety and report safety concerns to an adult at our school,” O’Cain said in the letter.
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