Elizabethton High School was on high alert after an online threat was made Monday Nov. 18. The threat was brought to the attention of the Elizabethton Police Department around 8:30 p.m. after it was shared all over social media.
The initial threat was made on Snapchat and was then shared and spread around Facebook. The threat came from an unidentified source stating:“Everyone at Elizabethton High School better watch out on Tuesday November 19…that school is gonna get shot up.”
The police were notified and immediately started investigating the threat. Elizabethton Schools sent out a statement Monday night, Nov. 18 stating they were aware of the threat and precautions were being taken. The statement also reassured, “Our school system and law enforcement take all threats seriously and are working to ensure the safety of students and staff, while identifying the source of the threat.”
By 12 p.m. Monday night, the Elizabethton Police Department notified the public that they had identified, located and charged the person who made the threat. Because the suspect was a juvenile, their name was not released.
The police department said the speed of the case was possible due to “quick reporting of the threat and tips from the community.”
Elizabethton Schools sent out another statement thanking everyone who shared concern of the threat, and all the law enforcement agencies for their quick work.
On Tuesday, EHS operated on a regular schedule, and an increase of law enforcement was present out of caution. However, students, parents and staff were still scared to return on Tuesday.
Julie Henderson, whose daughter is a freshman at EHS, talked about sending her daughter to school on Tuesday. “I decided to let her go because I trusted the school would keep her, and all students, safe.”
Henderson also mentioned that her daughter was scared to go back. “She kept texting and calling me throughout the day, giving me updates and, at one point, wanting to go home,” said Henderson.
Henderson’s daughter was not the only student who wanted to stay at home. EHS recorded nearly 400 students absent on Tuesday as a result of the threat.
Rachel Wagner, a biology teacher for the high school said, “Tuesday was much calmer than I expected because half of my students stayed home.”
Wagner also said that she was a little concerned when she received the initial news of the threat. She added that she was not that scared because she knew the school officials and law enforcement would do everything they could to keep the school safe.
Milligan has a procedure in the case of an active shooter. The most important part of the procedure is to get somewhere safe and not go near the shooter. Click here to refer to Milligan’s active shooter protocol.
Headline photo: Elizabethton High School was on high alert Tuesday, Nov. 19 after an online threat was made to the school.