ASHEBORO N.C. – Officals have given the “all clear” at Asheboro High School following a bomb threat that led to an evacuation of the school and a lockdown of all Asheboro City Schools this morning.
The Asheboro Police Department says they recivied a threat by phone at 9:21 a.m. In a press release, police say an individual claimed to have “placed bombs inside Asheboro High School,” and stated they were “armed with a weapon and would enter the school.”
School resource officers at the high school were notified and students were evacuated to “secure off-site locations”, according to police. Meanwhile, other Asheboro City Schools were told to go into lockdown and shelter in place.
At 10:23 a.m. Asheboro City Schools confirmed the threat in a statement, stating they were following safety protocols at all city school campuses.
Law enforcement personnel from Asheboro Police Department, Randolph County Sheriff’s Office, N.C. Highway Patrol, N.C. Probation and Parole, Asheboro Fire/Rescue Department, and Randolph County Emergency Services all responded to the school. Several deputies from the Guilford County Sheriff’s Office also responded with bomb detection dogs to assist in the search.
Despite the school systems pleas for parents to stay clear of the scene and to not attempt to pick up their children, around a dozen parents gathered in front of the Asheboro City Schools Administration Building on Park St. Parents who spoke to reporters looking for updates expressed fustration with the lack of information being released.
At 1:23 p.m., the Asheboro Police Department confirmed that the searches of the school, parking lot, vehicles, and surrounding area found no devices or suspects, confirming to reporters that there was never an active shooter at the school.
By 1:45 p.m., students from Asheboro High School were safely escorted back to their classrooms. Later in the evening, the Asheboro City Schools released the following statement:
On September 1, 2023 just before 9:30 am Asheboro City Schools staff were notified by the Asheboro Police Department of a threat to Asheboro High School which required evacuation of the building. Asheboro Police Department led the response and secured the campus perimeter.
Students were relocated to the football stadium and then to a predetermined safe location as specified in the school safety plan. As a precaution, we were advised by Randolph Emergency Communications to have all other Asheboro City schools shelter in place while the investigation was ongoing.
At approximately 1:45 pm the shelter in place was lifted for each school and Asheboro High School students were able to return to campus and finish the school day. Buses were able to operate on a regular schedule and after school activities were held as planned.
“The Asheboro Police Department and emergency personnel acted swiftly. Students and staff followed all procedures and contributed to an extremely successful safety response,” says Gayle Higgs, Director of Support Services.
Dr. Aaron Woody, Superintendent of Asheboro City Schools states, “We have a strong school community. Everyone came together to ensure that the relocation of our students was orderly and that they were safe during this time. We are so appreciative of the contributions of our local business partners and emergency response agencies.”
The rapid response from the Asheboro Police Department and other law enforcement agencies ensured the safety of our students. Student safety is our first priority. Safety protocols specified in our school safety plans were followed. We would like to thank the community and our families for their support and cooperation as well.
The students and staff throughout Asheboro City Schools were extremely positive throughout the day today. They are to be commended for their professionalism and deliberate actions that contributed to a calm and orderly outcome. Be assured that we will continue to be vigilant and prepared to provide the very best educational environment for all students in Asheboro City Schools.
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