CRIME

Pender student arrested after threat

Cammie Bellamy StarNews Staff
[F.T. NORTON/STARNEWS]

ROCKY POINT -- A Cape Fear Middle School student was arrested Thursday after allegedly making a threat against the school.

The 13-year-old student was taken into custody Thursday evening, according to a news release from the Pender County Sheriff's Office. On Wednesday morning, a teacher at Cape Fear Middle School was given a note that reportedly included a drawing of a gun being fired at the school.

The student is charged with felony making a false report concerning mass violence on educational property, according to the news release.

At least seven such false threats have been made against schools in Pender, Brunswick and New Hanover counties since the Feb. 14 school shooting in Parkland, Florida. Two Pender County high school students were charged Feb. 21 with making a false report after a SnapChat threatening the school system circulated among students.

Local school threats

Feb. 14: Separate unsubstantiated threats investigated at Leland Middle School and North Brunswick High School.

Feb. 16: 6th grader arrested at South Brunswick Middle after allegedly telling classmates he heard there would be a shooting at the school.

Feb. 20: 7th grader arrested at South Brunswick Middle after allegedly threatening to shoot people at the school.

Feb. 20: SnapChat threatening Pender County Schools circulates among students. 14-year-old Topsail High School student and a 15-year-old Trask High School student are arrested Wednesday for false threats.

Feb. 21: 14-year-old Myrtle Grove Middle School student arrested after allegedly making threatening video and message on desk. Two more students are arrested in connection with the threat later that week.

Feb. 23: Deputies investigate report of 15-year-old Ashley High School student with a list of people to kill. He was arrested Wednesday after new information revealed he attempted to solicit another student to help.

Wednesday: Threat left on a bathroom wall prompts shelter-in-place at South Brunswick High School.

Thursday: 13-year-old Cape Fear Middle School student arrested after allegedly making a threat against the school.

Sources: Brunswick County Schools, Pender County Sheriff's Office, New Hanover County Sheriff's Office

Reporter Cammie Bellamy can be reached at 910-343-2339 or Cammie.Bellamy@StarNewsOnline.com.

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