BARROW COUNTY, Ga. — All Barrow County schools were under a lockdown for several hours on Friday morning, but it has since been lifted and officials say everyone is safe.
District officials say law enforcement investigated a series of threatening calls to several schools on Friday morning and have now determined they were pranks.
“It’s heartbreaking. Give us a break. Give these kids and these parents and their loved ones a break,” Sheriff Jud Smith said.
The sheriff’s office says bomb threats were called in to County Line Elementary School, Yargo Elementary School, Kennedy Elementary School, Winder Elementary School and Apalachee High School. The central office also received a call.
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Sheriff Smith said he is using local, state and federal resources to track down the person responsible for the threats.
“Whoever is doing this is a sick individual, and I’m going to throw every resource that I have at it to find out who they are and prosecute them to the fullest,” the sheriff said.
Photos shared with Channel 2 Action News showed parents lined up down the street near Apalachee High School.
“It’s really nothing that you could do but just pray and, you know, hope that God continues to protect them,” concerned mom Diana Shumaker told Channel 2’s Michael Seiden.
The sheriff said he and his team searched the schools, but didn’t find any explosives.
“We are grateful for your cooperation, trust, and understanding as we worked to ensure the safety of students and staff. We appreciate the swift actions of our law enforcement and their partnership,” the district said in a statement.
Investigators say similar threats have been made at schools in other jurisdictions in the last several days.
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