GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. — Gwinnett County school officials are vowing serious consequences for whoever caused a high school lockdown with a fake gun threat.
Parents told Channel 2′s Matt Johnson they are fed up.
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Gwinnett police and Gwinnett school police went room by room at Brookwood High School in search of a possible gunman on campus.
“I’m like, ‘Oh, it’s just a drill.’ She said, ‘No, Mom, it’s not a drill,’” said parent Earline Brooks.
Parents rushed to the school after getting frantic texts from their kids and after being notified about a possible threat to the campus.
By noon police announced no credible threat had been found, but another fake threat threw everyone into chaos.
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Wednesday’s events started with someone calling Snellville police with a threat.
“Someone wanted to either hurt themselves or hurt some in the area around Brookwood High School,” Bernard Watson, the department’s director of community and media relations, said.
When police showed up, someone posted on social media that someone was inside the school with a gun.
Police escalated their response but eventually found nothing.
“When we find who makes these kinds of fake threats, there are consequences, including going to jail,” Watson said.
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Last month some parents at Brookwood High kept their kids home after a threat written on a wall had a real bullet next to it.
Some parents say they plan to reach out to school administrators about getting everyone in the same room to discuss more ways to keep kids safe.
“Something needs to be done, and to start with a town hall, I think that may be the answer,” Brooks said.
Students caught making threats can also face federal charges.
The FBI says students can face prison time of up to 2 and a half years depending on the crime.
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