A Union County middle school student was charged with a felony after allegedly making a false threat of a school shooting, triggering a swift police response yesterday afternoon. The 13-year-old, whose identity is being withheld due to their age, is claimed to have placed a 911 call from within Weddington Middle School, reporting that a student had been shot on campus, as QC News reported.
Responding officers, including a school resource officer already at location, conducted a comprehensive sweep of the school grounds but found no evidence of guns or a shooting event. According to reports provided by an the Union County Sheriff's Office, it was determined the report was a false alarm or hoax. "Let me be clear, we have zero tolerance for anyone who makes false threats against our schools," said Sheriff Eddie Cathey. These incidents were said to not only provoke panic and educational disruption, but also divert critical emergency services from real emergencies, as per WBTV.
Following the incident, the sheriff's office arrested the 13-year-old involved, and laid a felony charge against the juvenile for making the false report. The subsequent investigation reaffirmed that no weapon was present on school property throughout the ordeal, and reemphasized the non-existence of the reported shooting, as stated by the WSOC-TV.
In the wake of these events, local law enforcement advocates for parents to have conversations with their children about the gravity of such actions. The sheriff's office warned that these are not pranks but serious offenses carrying significant legal and personal ramifications.
