Press Release: LCS and LPD partner to respond to social media threats of violence to LSHS
LEXINGTON, NC – The Lexington Police Department and Lexington City Schools continue working together to investigate and respond to recent threats about Lexington Senior High School on social media.
Over the last week, four threats of violence to occur at Lexington Senior High School have been posted on social media. The first was made on October 3. The Lexington Police Department worked closely with Lexington City Schools to dismiss students in a coordinated and safe manner. The second was made on October 4. Lexington Police Department and Lexington City schools collaborated and took precautions to keep students safe without the need for early dismissal. Another threat was made that same day, and officers worked closely with school officials to determine the safest course of action would be to delay the school start time on October 5.
Today, a fourth threat of violence to occur at Lexington Senior High School was made through social media. School resource officers immediately began communicating with school staff, investigators, and police department command staff. Members of the Lexington Police Department worked closely with Lexington City Schools’ staff to dismiss students in a coordinated and safe manner.
The investigations of all these threats are active and ongoing.
For the threat made on October 4, which resulted in the school delay on October 5, Lexington Police Department investigators have charged a 14-year-old student at Lexington Senior High School with felony Communicating a Threat of Mass Violence on Educational Property. Although a Lexington Senior High School student was charged in this incident, we must acknowledge that we do not focus investigative efforts exclusively on Lexington City School students.
We take these circumstances very seriously. Our students don’t deserve to live in fear nor continue to have their school days disrupted. We ask that all community members join in with Lexington City Schools and Lexington Police Department in our efforts to stop this from happening. Be aware of what children are doing on social media. Look at their phones and social media accounts. Share any concerning information you encounter with school administrators and resource officers. You can also call 911 or report information anonymously to Lexington Area Crime Stoppers at (336) 243-2400.
