Pearl Public School District officials and local law enforcement dispelled rumors of an active shooter at Pearl High School on Thursday morning. But a potential threat did apparently result in the school being put on lockdown.
Concerned parents and citizens took to church prayer email chains and social media to warn of an apparent active shooter at the school. Authorities quickly stamped the rumor out, but they did confirm that the school was on a “soft” lockdown with no immediate threat.
An apparent nationwide threat of violence across the U.S. could have sparked the chaos, and Pearl officials did confirm that the FBI is investigating.
Yet another rumor circulated that there was an escaped inmate on the school’s campus, which was also inaccurate.
The following email was sent to parents of Pearl students following the rumors:
“This morning, the City of Pearl received a threat to Pearl High School. Upon receiving this news, we immediately enacted our lockdown protocols at Pearl High School and implemented soft lockdowns at our other schools as a precautionary measure.
Thankfully, after a thorough investigation by our local law enforcement and a swift response from our school staff, it was determined that there was no active threat. We have also learned that similar threats have been made against other school districts across the country today. These incidents are currently under investigation by Homeland Security and the FBI.
I want to express my deepest gratitude to our first responders and school staff for their exemplary handling of this situation. Their quick actions and professionalism under pressure ensured the safety and well-being of all our students and staff.
Safety is, and always will be, our top priority. Incidents like this reinforce the importance of the rigorous safety training we conduct with our staff and students. It is because of our preparedness and the strong relationships we have with local law enforcement that we are able to respond effectively to any threat, real or perceived.
Thank you for your continued support.”
The apparent threats come after more than 100 emergency calls were made in September requesting law enforcement assistance due to threats of violence. Officials from the Mississippi Department of Public Safety say that the number is a sharp increase from 2023.
