DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — A note threatening to shoot up a school and leave blood running down walls has parents very concerned. The principal at Lakeside High School on Briarcliff Road in DeKalb County. The school where the note was found says it is maintaining an increased security presence.
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The threat has some parents very nervous.
“You never know what could happen to our kids,” Maria Juarez told Channel 2’s Tom Jones.
Juarez didn’t know whether to take seriously an image threatening to shoot up Lakeside High on Friday or take it as a prank.
The image also said: “Lakeside Massacre. You will die.” The message contained other inflammatory statements about blood and killing.
Still, Juarez is sending her daughter to school.
“She’s gonna come to school. I just pray to God that everything is gonna be better.”
However, parent Chantay Matlock isn’t taking any chances.
“My daughter is not coming to school on Friday,” Matlock said.
Matlock says she doesn’t want to gamble with her life.
“You kind of don’t want to take it for granted. Take it lightly, just in case something does end up happening,” Matlock said.
Lakeside sent out a letter to parents stating, “The images were found in the girl’s bathroom approximately two weeks ago. The school says it began investigating immediately. The principal wrote in the letter the images were recently posted on social media. The principal says the school began receiving calls and emails from parents about it.”
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The school says this is an ongoing investigation, and it is maintaining a security presence on campus.
Juarez says threats like this are why students need to carry their phones throughout the school day.
“In any type of emergency, we can text them,” Juarez said.
She says with her daughter not being able to use her phone, if something happens Friday, she will be in the dark.
“At least with a phone we can track them down, or they can call us right away,” Juarez said.
Lakeside forbids students from using electronic devices during the school day.
The school says it usually increases security before fall break, but in light of this threat, it will continue to maintain an increased security presence to help ensure a safe learning environment.
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