NC schools on alert: Vague social media threat circulates across state, targets some Wake schools

Several high schools in Wake County and others across the state are taking extra security measures on Friday due to a social media threat that appears to target multiple campuses.

2023-05-05

According to numerous reports, Knightdale High School, Millbrook High School, Rolesville High School, Heritage High School, Wake Forest High and Leesville High, among others, are on high alert Friday with extra security. The principals at all these schools said the schools were not actually named in a mass, unspecified threat.

Several principals posted to social media platforms to remind people that there are serious consequences for making threats against a school.

Rolesville Principal Phelan Perry said a threat was posted on Instagram mentioning violence against a school on Friday, but Rolesville was not specifically named in the threat.

"After learning about the threat, school administration immediately contacted WCPSS Security and law enforcement who are currently investigating. As a precaution, there will be additional law enforcement on campus tomorrow," Perry wrote.

Ian Soloman, principal at Leesville Road High School, sent a similar message Thursday evening, saying a social media threat not naming Leesville has been "distributed to numerous schools" and Leesville will beef up security as a result.

Wake Forest High School sent the following message to parents:

"We are aware of a threat posted on social media mentioning violence against a school. Our school was not originally named in this threat. However this evening our school has been inserted in some posts."

Heritage High School addressed the same threat in an email to families, saying the school was not specifically named but campus security is on alert.

Various parents emailed WRAL and said they plan to keep their children at home Friday as a safety measure.

Captain Brian Bowers with the Wake County Sheriff's Office oversees the school resource officers (SRO) who protect the campuses of 24 Wake County Public Schools. He said they take any threat, no matter how vague, seriously. Bowers said an SRO at Heritage High was the first of his officers to find out about the threat.

"We just try to have extra presence at school, be highly visible, try to reassure the students that we’re here," Bowers said.

A message from North Raleigh Christian Academy told parents "this potential threat is a hoax with the intent of causing mass panic. Nonetheless, all potential threats are taken seriously."

"My son approached me and said – 'uh look mom, there’s a threat,'" said Clayton High School parent Solimar Cruz. "It’s nerve-wracking because you never know what’s going to happen and if it’s fake or not and then let it go and something happens."

Anonymous tips: 919-856-1911

Wake County Public School System has an anonymous tip line parents and students can call to report threats or concerns. The number is 919-856-1911.

The threat does not appear to be limited to schools in Wake County. In Chatham County, Sheriff Mike Roberson posted there will be more deputies at the district's schools on Friday due to a non-specific social media threat.

Roberson said the threat is spreading around North Carolina schools and across other states.

Posting threats on social media is a serious offense and could result in criminal charges.

In the first three months of 2023, dozens of threats were made against area schools. Local and state leaders are working to find solutions to crack down on threats against schools that have interrupted learning and frayed nerves.