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Carolina schools on alert for shooting threats

Shelby High School in Cleveland County is one of the latest schools in the Charlotte area to receive a threat.

Across the Carolinas, school systems are on alert for shooting threats following last week’s shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.

Shelby High School in Cleveland County is one of the latest schools in the Charlotte area to receive a threat.

A post shared on Facebook said, “Thinking about shooting up Shelby High.”

Shelby Police Department posted on Facebook saying the department has located the individual and is currently investigating the situation.

Director of Communications for Cleveland County Schools Greg Shull said in response to the threat: “In an event in which the overarching atmosphere of a school could have the potential of feeling uneasy among the students and staff, we provide additional support from a variety of service areas, including district administration.”

Several students who attend Shelby High School told NBC Charlotte they felt scared to be at school Tuesday.

“It’s not a joke, especially with everything that’s been happening like in Florida and stuff,” said Kayla Slone, an 11th grader. “It was very scary to come to school today (Tuesday).”

Slone said she found out about the threat from friends and social media. She came to school Tuesday, but she, like many others, left early out of fear.

“I was in the front office, and it’s just parents piling in, phone calls coming in, emails saying that their student can sign themselves out,” Slone added.

North Carolina House Speaker Tim Moore announced Tuesday a new House Select Committee on School Safety. Moore said this committee will look at gaps in school security and find ways to improve it.

“The schools should be a place where children are there free to learn and be free of fear, and we want to make sure that we’re doing all we can to make sure that North Carolina schools are the safest in the country,” Moore said.

The bipartisan committee will look at both physical security and mental health improvements in schools.

“Ladies and gentlemen, this is not a pro-gun committee,” said Rep. John Torbett, R-Gaston. “This is not an anti-gun committee. This is a committee looking at the safety and security of our children in school.”

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