Pender students charged in shooting threats

BURGAW -- Two Pender County students were arrested Wednesday in connection with school shooting threats, the 14th and 15th such recent arrests in the region.

The Pender County Sheriff's Office announced Wednesday that a 14-year-old Burgaw Middle School student and a 15-year-old Pender High School student were arrested in separate incidents.

The Burgaw Middle student was taken into custody at 2 a.m. at his home. The student allegedly told classmates that there would be a shooting at Burgaw Middle School. School administrators were informed about the threat at 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, and then contacted the sheriff's office.

The Pender High student was arrested Wednesday afternoon after allegedly communicating a threat to classmates during school hours, according to the sheriff's office.

Both students were charged with making a false report of mass violence on educational property, news releases stated.

Since the Feb. 14 school shooting in Parkland, Florida, dozens of false threats have been made against local schools, and schools across the state and country. This is the fifth student arrested in Pender County in connection with a threat. Two Brunswick County students have also been charged, as have seven New Hanover County students.

Recent school threat allegations

Feb. 16: A sixth-grader was arrested at South Brunswick Middle after allegedly telling classmates he heard there would be a shooting at the school.

Feb. 19: A 17-year-old New Hanover County Schools student was arrested after allegedly making a SnapChat threat against the district.

Feb. 20: A seventh-grader was arrested at South Brunswick Middle after allegedly threatening to shoot people at the school.

Feb. 20: A SnapChat video threatening Pender County Schools circulates among students. A 14-year-old Topsail High student and a 15-year-old Trask High student are arrested Feb. 21 for felony making a false threat of violence on educational property.

Feb. 21: A 14-year-old Myrtle Grove Middle student in New Hanover County was arrested after allegedly making a threatening video and writing a message on desk that included a drawing of a gun.

Feb. 22: A 14-year-old girl and a 13-year-old boy at Myrtle Grove Middle in New Hanover County were arrested after they allegedly told several classmates that they were going to “shoot up” an assembly. The two were friends with the boy arrested the previous day.

Feb. 23: Deputies investigated a report of 15-year-old student at Ashley High in New Hanover County who allegedly had a list of people to kill. The student was arrested Feb. 28 after new information revealed he allegedly attempted to solicit help from another student.

March 1: A 13-year-old Cape Fear Middle student in Pender County was arrested after a teacher was given a note that included a drawing of a gun being fired at the school.

March 2: A 12-year-old at Murray Middle student in New Hanover County was arrested after telling a teacher he was looking up layouts for the school so he could shoot it up.

March 5: A 15-year-old at Ashley High was arrested after allegedly posting a photograph of a backpack and gun with a caption reading, “Ready for school” online.

March 5: A 15-year-old at Trask High was arrested after a drawing of a school shooting was found.

March 7: A 14-year-old Burgaw Middle School student in Pender County was arrested after allegedly making a school shooting threat.

March 7: A 15-year-old Pender High School student was arrested after allegedly making a school shooting threat.

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.