ATLANTA — Yet again, school officials have had to respond to a threat made against a metro Atlanta school.
On Sunday, Atlanta Public School officials confirmed they were investigating after they were made aware of threats made against Maynard Jackson High School, South Atlanta High School, Carver High School, and Washington High School that was posted on Instagram Friday, Feb. 23.
It comes just hours after reports surfaced of a threat against South Gwinnett High School, and days after arrests in Bartow, Gordon and Gwinnett for similar threats.
The district said Atlanta Public Schools Police Department is investigating the threat with the Atlanta Police Department’s homeland security, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, and the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force.
In addition, APS said they have "comprehensive" safety and security measures at their schools and all safety and security protocols will be enforced.
"School safety is everyone’s business," the statement said. "The posting or re-posting of threats of violence against schools on social media is a criminal offense and APS will prosecute these incidents to the full extent of the law."
The flood of threats against schools in the wake of a deadly mass shooting in Parkland, Florida that left 17 dead has parents and students on high alert. It's also the reason behind a new movement pushing for new safety measures to prevent another mass school shooting.
"I believe that if we all work together as youth and we get our message across, that change will happen," one student told 11Alive.
Students across the nation, and here in the metro area, will participate in the March 14 "National School Walkout Day," during which students will leave class for 17 minutes to honor the 17 killed in Parkland, Florida. Ten days later, students will hold a "March for Our Lives" rally, and then on April 20, students will host another national school walkout to commemorate the 19th anniversary of the Columbine School Shooting.
Meanwhile, school districts across the metro area continue to take any hint of a threat very seriously, and are urging anyone with information about threats to call Crime Stoppers at 404-577-8477 or their local police department.
