Another Mississippi school was forced to go on lockdown after a social media threat insinuated a shooting could take place.
On Tuesday, officials at Bettye Mae Jack Middle School received word from students about a TikTok video spreading around. The video reportedly said a shooting would take place at the school on or around the anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terroristic attacks.
To ensure student safety, administrators ordered a lockdown as law enforcement responded to the scene. While no credible source of the video has been located yet, investigators are still working to find out who the culprit is.
The Scott County School District released a statement, noting the threat seems to align with others happening at various K-12 schools across both the state and the nation. However, increased law enforcement presence will be on campus at Bettye Mae Jack Middle School until the investigation is completed.
“We are aware of the similar threats being communicated at multiple schools across the nation this week,” a portion of the statement reads. “We will fully investigate each and every threat to ensure the safety and well-being of our students and staff members.
“We would like to thank our students for bringing this information to the attention of the school personnel. The students’ communication of the potential threat, along with the quick response of the school staff, administration, and local law enforcement, ensured the safety of our students and staff members today and should be commended.”
The middle school in Morton was the third in Mississippi to go on lockdown on Tuesday after a suspect was arrested for making threats toward Northwest Rankin Middle School in Flowood. Another individual was arrested on Tuesday for an online threat directed at the Nanih Waiya Attendance Center.
On Monday, Provine High School in Jackson had to go on lockdown, with two intruders being arrested. Also on Monday, a student at Thrasher Attendance Center in Booneville was arrested for pulling a gun on a fellow peer in the school bathroom.
This week’s threats come just days after a 14-year-old opened fire at Apalachee High School in Winder, Ga., last week, killing two students and two teachers.
