One in custody after false active shooter report at Franklinton High
FRANKLINTON, NC (WTVD) — Franklin County Sheriff Kevin White says one person is in custody following a false active shooter report at Franklinton High School on Monday.
According to the sheriff’s updated post, a juvenile individual is in custody in connection with this morning’s “Active Shooter Hoax” at Franklinton High School.
In his post, the sheriff said, “This was a sick and disgusting joke that has caused significant mental stress to many in our community. Please pray for peace and calmness to overcome all of those frightened by this senseless act. The community was never in danger, and thanks to the quick work of our first responders, agency partners and investigators, the individual who caused this mess has been identified.”
Parents said they were frightened after receiving messages from their children during the lockdown.
“And as a parent, you know, when I get a text from her saying what was happening and, and saying, you know, I love you like. It’s terrifying,” parent Ashley Koito said.
Freshman Kaci Liberto said students in her second-period computer class heard conflicting reports about what was happening.
“Some people said they heard a fire. Some people said they heard shooting and cops and all that. And then we saw cops out of the window surrounding the school,” Liberto said.
As students remained inside, hundreds of parents gathered outside the school, waiting for information about when their children would be released.
Some voiced frustration to law enforcement as the situation unfolded.
Liberto said she was upset that someone appeared to have made a false report.
“It’s just a waste of time. Like, you don’t want to joke about stuff like that. Even when kids put it on the internet, you know, put it on their Instagram stories or, like, it’s not a joke,” she said.
Franklin County Sheriff Kevin White later said on social media that his office would work to identify whoever was responsible for the false alarm and hold them accountable.
