CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV) -
Hopewell High School was on a partial lockdown Thursday morning after
Huntersville police say they were looking for a possible weapon on campus.
An anonymous caller told the school a student may have brought a gun on
campus.
The report was made at about 9 a.m. according to the Huntersville Police
Department. A search soon began at the school.
Officers investigated. They told WBTV no guns were found, but there were
three knives on campus. The students responsible will be disciplined according
to CMS policy.
Officials said no injuries or threats were reported. The lockdown was lifted
by 10:30 a.m.
Friday, WBTV learned a 16-year-old male was arrested and charged with having
a weapon on campus.
Soon after Thursday's report, students pulled out their cell phones to tell
the world about the incident through social media.
"It was kind of scary," Hopewell HS parent Tina Lee said.
"Because you never know nowadays - it's like do you want to teach
them at home or send them to school."
One student even used Instagram to post a picture of one of the classrooms
getting searched.
It is against the school district's policy for students to use their cell
phones during class time. The principal, Michael Jones, had staff monitor
a computer to see which students were on Twitter during the lockdown. He
said about 10 students were using social media when they were supposed to be in
class learning.
Jones said he will talk to those students and remind them about the
policy. The principal also went to the students' classrooms to
confiscate their phones.
"I think he was just doing his job," Hopewell parent Cheryle Cail
said. "I am very proud of how he handled it today."
The messages students sent caused unnecessary panic among parents. One
student sent a message to their parent reading "Pray for me".
The principal hopes by trying to get a handle on social media during school,
will assure parents students are safe while at school and will dispel rumors.
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