ROCKINGHAM — Police say no gun was found at Rockingham Middle School after an alleged threat was made from one student to another on social media.
Rockingham Police Chief George Gillenwater told the RO that investigators confirmed Tuesday that the student who is accused of making the alleged threat was not armed at the school and that the gun seen in the photo was found at the home.
A mother posted to Facebook around 8 a.m. Tuesday morning an alleged Snapchat screenshot reportedly sent to her daughter, appearing to show a young boy holding up a small handgun with the caption “Don’t come to school tomorrow.”
In the accompanying post, the mother names the student who allegedly sent the photo and says he has been “messing with my daughter,” including reportedly telling the girl that she needed to “pick his cotton.”
Gillenwater said both students live outside of RPD’s jurisdiction and the information gathered has been turned over to the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office.
Any disciplinary actions will be handled by Richmond County Schools and any criminal charges or juvenile petitions will be filed by the sheriff’s office, he added.
The chief also said that police had not been notified about the alleged threat before it was posted to social media. If they had been informed, Gillenwater said the department could have taken measures before school started.
Gillenwater also said that if a parent feels their child is being threatened or bullied, he encourages them to contact law enforcement before going to social media.
The RO reached out to the school system with questions just after noon on Tuesday and has yet to receive a response.
