On Sunday, September 15, 2024, investigators with the Rockingham County Sheriff’s Office began looking into threats made against Bethany Charter School by a student via a group text involving seven peers.
In the messages, the student claimed they intended to "shoot up the school."
Through the investigation, it was revealed that the threatening message originated from a juvenile student at Bethany Charter School who was impersonating another student.
Utilizing advanced investigative techniques, Detective Winnie Ortega traced the source of the text thread, and this information has been forwarded to the North Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice.
A juvenile petition has been initiated against the individual responsible for Communicating Threats of Mass Violence Against Educational Property. Under North Carolina law, details about the charged juvenile cannot be disclosed.
Rockingham County Sheriff Sam Page stated, "We take all threats seriously and will pursue prosecution to the fullest extent allowed by law. This is not a joke; attempting to disguise your identity or evade detection will not be tolerated in Rockingham County."