As a series of school threats continue across Mississippi, officials in Vicksburg have confirmed a report about a potential social media post concerning one of the city’s schools was unsubstantiated.
On Thursday, the Vicksburg Warren School District received information regarding a potential threat against Warren Central Junior High School. As school resource officers and administrators rushed to investigate, a release noted no evidence was found supporting the rumors.
“We appreciate the vigilance of students, staff, and parents in reporting unusual or potentially unsafe situations. We are proud of our students for openly communicating with us when there are concerns,” the release stated.
Officials went on to urge parents and guardians to discuss the impact school threats can have while also looking into ways to monitor their student’s social media accounts.
“Please discuss with your student the seriousness of making threats of violence against the school or other students,” the release continued. “Whether these threats are verbal, nonverbal, or made on social media, we take every report or potential threat very seriously. This is also a good opportunity for parents and guardians to talk about responsible social media use and monitor their student’s social media accounts.”
Mississippi has seen a rapid influx of threats since a shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder, Ga., last week killed two students and two teachers.
On Monday, Provine High School in Jackson was forced to go on lockdown with two intruders being arrested. Earlier that day, a student at Thrasher Attendance Center in Booneville was apprehended for pulling a gun on a fellow student in the school bathroom.
A suspect was taken into custody on Tuesday for threatening Northwest Rankin Middle School in Flowood and another was arrested for an online threat directed at the Nanih Waiya Attendance Center. That same day, a threat was assessed at Betty Mae Jack Middle School in Morton based on a TikTok video referencing a potential shooting on or around the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
Wednesday, officials in Amory launched an investigation into a rumored impending active shooter threat that was deemed intangible after being directed at the Amory School District.
None of the threats so far in Mississippi in 2024 have resulted in an active shooter situation. Still, education institutions across the state are on high alert as gunfire on school grounds has risen drastically in recent years.
