14-Year-Old Charged With Making Shooting Threat At Iredell School

STATESVILLE, NC — A 14-year-old Iredell County student has been charged following a threat of a school shooting at West Iredell High School Monday, the first day of school, according to authorities.

The student was charged with communicating a false report concerning mass violence on educational property, the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office said.

Deputies received a tip from a parent about the possible shooting at the Statesville school Aug. 12.

Investigators contacted school officials, and the school resource officer, who was involved in student interviews at the school

“During the interviews it was discovered the suspect has been talking about this the prior week,” ICSO said. “The student had told others not to come to school on Monday.”

“We take a zero tolerance when it comes to violence or threatened acts of violence on our school system,” Iredell Sheriff Darren Campbell said in a statement. “We will not accept this kind of behavior, and will do all we can to protect our students, parents and school staff members.”

According to the sheriff’s office, the student has a history of other similar incidents in the Iredell-Statesville School Systems. Investigators have submitted evidence in the case to the North Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice and the District Attorney’s Office.