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ASHEBORO N.C. – Late Sunday night the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office says it is investigating a “generic threat against schools circulating on social media.”
The Randolph County Sheriff’s Office is aware of a generic threat against schools circulating on
Press Release – Randolph County Sheriff’s Office
social media. The threat is a screenshot and names no specific school. The threat mentions
specific details that does not seem to coincide to any schools within the Randolph County School
System.
We are continuing to investigate the threat but have found no credibility to it at this point. We
ask that citizens not share the threat on any social media platform as it only serves to incite panic
and fear, which may be the ultimate goal of the original poster.
We have communicated with the leadership of the Randolph County Schools and we will
continue to work in conjunction with them to ensure the safety and security of our schools.
It’s unknown at this time if this threat is related to or similar to the threat the Sheriff’s Office investigated on May 4th, 2023.
This is a developing story, and more information will be provided as it is made available.
UPDATE 5/12/23 10 A.M. – This morning the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office has released additional information about the school threat they were investigating overnight.
On May 14th, after receiving knowledge of a generic threat and violence towards schools, the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office discovered a more direct threat made towards Eastern Randolph High School late last night. Detectives have located the potential source of this threat and have conducted a search on a residence of a juvenile believed to be the author of the social media post. Because the suspect is a juvenile, the Sheriff’s Office is not able to release the name of the student involved. This investigation is ongoing and charges are imminent in this case.
Press Release – Randolph County Sheriff’s Office
UPDATE MAY 15, 2023 7 P.M. – See the update below from the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office.
On May 15 th , beginning in the early morning hours and continuing throughout the day, Detectives with the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office searched a residence and interviewed multiple individuals relevant to the threat made towards Eastern Randolph High School on the night of the 14 th . It was determined that the individual that was suspected early on in the investigation, was the source of the threat made on social media. Official charges in this matter have been sought through the Juvenile Justice System for Felonious Communicating a threat of Mass Violence on Educational Property.
North Carolina General Statute and FERPA laws prohibit authorities from releasing the name of the juvenile involved or actions taken by the Randolph County School System in the matter. The Randolph County Sheriff’s Office, the Randolph County School System, and the Randolph County District Attorney’s Office will continue to have a zero-tolerance approach to school violence.
Press Release – Randolph County Sheriff’s Office