Manning High School student threatens to shoot up school, kill herself

MANNING — A female Manning High School student has been suspended and charged with student threats following a post she allegedly made on social media early Monday in which she threatened to “shoot it up” and then kill herself.

“In the early morning of Feb. 25, 2019, the school resource officer at Manning High School learned that a juvenile female student had made and then deleted a social media post in reference to hating everyone at school and wanting to shoot it up and kill herself,” Clarendon County Sheriff Tim Baxley said in a press release Tuesday afternoon. “The student was intercepted upon arrival at the start of school Monday morning. The school resource officer along with school officials contacted the juvenile’s parent, questioned the juvenile, suspended her immediately and sent her away from school with her parent that morning. An investigation continued until [Tuesday], where the juvenile was charged with student threats and has been petitioned for a family court hearing.”

In the release, Baxley said that the student stated that she had no intentions of doing this and tried to delete it before anyone could see it.

“There was never a safety issue at the school,” Baxley added. “Extra officers were at the school on Monday and Tuesday.”

The juvenile is awaiting a family court hearing on the charges as well as an expulsion hearing from the school, he added.

“School administrators and Clarendon County Sheriff’s Office assigned school resource officers worked together on all credible complaints and allegations of threats to resolve these matters at the earliest possible time,” said Dr. Daniel McMacthern, assistant superintendent of personnel for Clarendon School District Two. “We believe that the vigilant and prompt actions of the school administration (and) supported by the school resource officers, has preserved the safety of students at MHS.”

McMacthern said that Manning High School’s administration followed district procedure after learning of the potential threat. McMacthern said the student was taken into the office at the beginning of the school day and that law enforcement and the student’s parent were contacted.

“From the investigation, the student was immediately suspended from school, pending further disciplinary action,” he added. “Any additional disciplinary actions will be heard within the time frame and manner required by law.”