Rumors of an active shooter spark a lockdown at Pearl High School

Pearl Public School District officials and local law enforcement dispelled rumors of an active shooter at Pearl High School Thursday morning. But a potential threat apparently led to the school being locked down.

Concerned parents and citizens used church prayer email chains and social media to warn about an apparent active shooter at the school. Authorities quickly dispelled the rumor but confirmed that the school had been placed under a “soft” lockdown with no immediate danger.

An apparent nationwide threat of violence across the U.S. may have sparked the chaos, and Pearl officials confirmed the FBI is investigating.

There was another rumor circulating that there was an escaped prisoner on the school campus, which was also inaccurate.

The following email was sent to Pearl students' parents in response to the rumors:

“This morning the City of Pearl received a threat against Pearl High School. Upon receiving this news, we immediately put our lockdown protocols into effect at Pearl High School and implemented soft lockdowns at our other schools as a precautionary measure.

Fortunately, after a thorough investigation by our local law enforcement and a quick response by our school staff, it was determined that there was no active threat. We also learned that similar threats were made today against other school districts across the country. These incidents are currently being investigated by Homeland Security and the FBI.

I would like to express my deepest gratitude to our first responders and school staff for their exemplary handling of this situation. Their quick actions and professionalism under pressure ensured the safety and well-being of all of our students and staff.

Safety is and remains our top priority. Incidents such as this highlight the importance of the rigorous safety training we provide to our staff and students. Because of our preparedness and the strong relationships we have with local law enforcement, we are able to respond effectively to any threat, real or perceived.

Thank you for your continued support.”

The apparent threats came after more than 100 911 calls were made in September requesting help from law enforcement due to threats of violence. Officials with the Mississippi Department of Public Safety say the number will rise sharply starting in 2023.