A 14-year-old has been charged with making a terrorist threat after an anonymous threat closed the Perry County school system Monday, Aug. 24, the Perry County Sheriff’s Office announced Tuesday.
School officials said the threat came in Sunday morning, Aug. 23, and announced that day that schools would be closed Monday out of an abundance of caution.
The district said the closure affected students, faculty and staff at both Francis Marion School and Robert C. Hatch High School and was made “in the best interest of those who learn and work in the building.” The system said it was working with the sheriff’s office on the investigation and referred further questions to that office. Classes resumed Tuesday, Aug. 25.
The district also said the closure showed that the safety measures it has put in place work, with people reporting what they see, and urged parents and students to report concerning behavior through the Anonymous Alerts feature on its website. The threat came 18 days into the new school year.
The sheriff’s office said Tuesday that the 14-year-old had been identified and charged in connection with the incident and that the investigation remains ongoing. Because the suspect is a juvenile, no additional identifying information will be released, the release said. The office said it takes all threats involving schools, students, faculty and staff seriously and thanked school officials and community members for their cooperation. Anyone with additional information is asked to call the sheriff’s office at 334-683-6534.
