Bomb threat turns out to be hoax at Asheboro High School

An officer walks outside Asheboro High School after it had been evacuated. (Scott Pelkey/Randolph Record)

 

ASHEBORO – A bomb threat Friday morning at Asheboro High School turned out to be a hoax.

A call received by Asheboro Police Department at 9:21 a.m. claimed bombs were inside the school and the call also claimed to be armed with a weapon with the intent to enter the school.

The school was evacuated and students were moved to locations off school property. People on all other Asheboro City Schools campuses were sheltering in place.

An officer with North Carolina Probation and Parole blocks West Walker Avenue as students return to Asheboro High School following Friday’s bomb threat. (Scott Pelkey/Randolph Record)

Shortly before 1:30 p.m., the search of the grounds wrapped up and school officials took back control of the building.

Searches in and around the school didn’t detect a bomb or an armed person. Guilford County Sheriff’s Office’s K-9 bomb detection unit assisted with the search.

Officials from numerous law enforcement agencies and emergency services were part of the response.

After-school activities were to be held on their normal schedules.

Earlier, despite the school system saying they wouldn’t release students and requested parents not to visit the area, about a dozen parents gathered in front of the Asheboro City Schools administration building waiting for updates.

Parents in touch with their children through text messages reported that many of the students were scared and not entirely sure what was happening.

By Randolph Record