Parents fear taking children to class at local schools after rumored threats

LELAND, NC (WWAY) –  Parents scared to take their kids to school, and students scared to go to class. That’s what several parents told us after rumored threats at two Brunswick County Schools.

Parents we talked to saw Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office detectives at the schools this morning, but that still does not ease their minds.

“They’re too scared to go to school,” said Wendy Andrews who has kids at both Leland Middle and North Brunswick High Schools. “What do they do? What are we going to do?”

The school district issuing a call Monday that students and parents shared with WWAY. It addressed the rumored threats at those schools.

“It has been brought to our attention that students have concerns regarding rumors of an incident of people posing a potential threat to our school,” said the robo-call in part.

Andrews said the facts are not coming out.

“This is not a rumor. This is factual. This can happen just like today in Florida. It happened.”

The Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office and a school spokesman called the rumors unsubstantiated. The full statement from the school is below.

“Brunswick County Schools is aware of the rumors involving Leland Middle School and North Brunswick High School.  As is protocol, with any rumors of this kind, BCS took immediate action and alerted School Resource Officers. Student safety is always the priority.  The situation is being investigated by the Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office and we are working closely with them.  There is not believed to be any danger to the students. ”

Andrews says that’s not how her kids see it.

“SnapChats, texts have been sent out from a particular student,” Andrews said. “I would say intimidating, scaring the children to the point that they think someone is going to come in a shoot the school.”

WWAY has not seen the exact images or messagesAndrews mentioned. She pulled her kids out of school for the day, like many parents, she’s now nervous to leave them there.

“This is children and they’re safety,” said Ashleigh Thompson who has nieces and nephews at Leland Middle as well as some children of her own that are in the elementary school system in Brunswick County.

Thompson is shaken up as well. She wants the school district to be open to parents in these situations.

“You should not be scared at school,” Thompson said. “School is supposed to be a safe place. Why is it not? And it’s because we don’t have the facts as parents to reassure our kids that they’re safe.”

The Sheriff’s Office released and evening statement in relation to the Florida school shooting saying, “The tragic events that occurred in Parkland, Florida earlier today are weighing on all of our minds. Our hearts and our prayers are with all those who were affected.”

Below is their full statement regarding the rumored threats and the investigation ongoing to find their source.

We understand that because of these events, and given the rumors circulating involving North Brunswick High School and Leland Middle School, that there are heightened concerns for the safety of the students, faculty and staff in our schools.

We want to assure the community that detectives continue to diligently investigate these rumors. Additional deputies will remain at both schools, and additional law enforcement presence will be at each school in the county as a precaution, until the person or persons responsible for these rumored threats are identified and held accountable.

We hope that these additional measures will help ease the minds of our community and assure confidence that BCSO and Brunswick County Schools are taking every step possible to ensure the safety of our children.

We would also encourage anyone who sees or hears anything suspicious to please report it to law enforcement. The Sheriff’s Office takes these reports very seriously and follow-up on every tip and every lead.