All is well at Starr’s Mill High School today, Fayette County Sheriff Barry Babb said Monday. There’s “an additional law enforcement presence” on the sprawling campus just south of Peachtree City “as a precaution,” Babb said.
Classes at Starr’s Mill began with an undertone of nervousness after a threat of gun violence on a boys restroom wall went viral on the preceding Friday. By Sunday night, Principal Allen Leonard had decided to email parents about the situation:
“Dear Panther Families:
“Late Friday afternoon a message was found in one of the boy’s restrooms stating that a student is going to bring a gun to school on October 3. Our school resource officer was made aware and began an investigation.
“No specific threat was made against any student or staff member. However, as a precautionary measure, there will be additional law enforcement personnel at school tomorrow.
“We are still investigating the identity of the person who wrote the message.
“The safety of our students and staff is a top priority. I encourage you to talk to your student and encourage them to report any information they may have pertaining to this incident. It takes all of us working together to ensure a safe learning and working environment for our school community.
“Thank you for your continued support of Starr’s Mill High School.
“Sincerely,
“Allen Leonard, Principal”
Below is a photo — apparently taken by a student — that is being shared on social media.
The text of the scribble is as follows:
“Don’t come to shool [sic] Oct 3
“I’m going to bring a gun and will kill
“anybody I see” plus an insult against the principal.
Sheriff Babb said Monday that his investigators “are continuing to work on the source of the threat” but noted that a small, scribbled message on a bathroom wall did not provide much in the way of evidence.
Social media heated up as parents and students discussed the scribbled threat — whether real or a hoax — with some parents wondering about the timing of the principal’s email on Sunday night that described what officials knew about two days earlier.
Our class got delayed because of this threat, also someone on the intercom said that they are going to find the person writing this stuff, and the consequences will be severe. I hope the person writing this gets what he deserved, because this is not right, and it needs to stop now! It is causing everyone to panic!
This article leaves out a couple of key points. The email informing SMHS parents and students of the issue was sent out at 8:44p.m. Sunday evening. Neither that email, not any other communication was sent to parents of students at Rising Starr Middle School, which is connected to, and shares both facilities and faculty with, SMHS. The whole situation, and lack of clear communication from the school, led many, many parents to not feel that their students would be safe at school, and they stayed home. The rumor mill is saying that somewhere in the neighborhood of 75% of the students at SMHS and 50% at RSMS decided to stay home yesterday.
Sounds like a hoax to get out of school but in these troubled days you have to take all these threats seriously.