By Shannon McFarlin WENK/WTPR News Director
Union City, Tenn.—All Obion County Schools are on what they are calling ‘soft lockdown’ this morning as law enforcement and school officials grapple with ‘general threats’ toward the schools that were made on social media.
The soft lockdown includes all schools in Obion County, including Union City Schools.
Parents are lined up at the schools this morning, picking up their children.
Obion County Sheriff’s deputies, Union City Police, Tennessee Highway Patrol, and other local law enforcement are on the scene of all the schools.
Obion County Schools Secretary Diane Terry told WENK/WTPR this morning that a ‘soft lockdown’ means that parents can come and get their children at the school if they so desire. If the schools were on a general lockdown, neither parents nor anyone else would be allowed to come onto the school property.
Terry said a ‘general threat’ was made on social media and school officials found out about it between 7 and 7:30 a.m. this morning. “We sent out a message to all the parents telling them what was happening,” she said.
A screenshot of the threat that was made last night on Snapchat reads that there would be a ‘live shooting” in Union City and Obion Co. Schools at 8:15 a.m. today. It says, “I aware no students should go too school tomorrow morning for your best survival and safety.” The message ends with hashtags “STAY STRONG”, “STOP SCHOOL SHOOTINGS” and “PRAYERS”.
School officials and law enforcement are right now trying to trace the threat and take appropriate action.
Photo of parents picking up kids at UCES by Brent Hinson
Parents are lined up at the schools this morning, picking up their children.
Obion County Sheriff’s deputies, Union City Police, Tennessee Highway Patrol, and other local law enforcement are on the scene of all the schools.
Obion County Schools Secretary Diane Terry told WENK/WTPR this morning that a ‘soft lockdown’ means that parents can come and get their children at the school if they so desire. If the schools were on a general lockdown, neither parents nor anyone else would be allowed to come onto the school property.
Terry said a ‘general threat’ was made on social media and school officials found out about it between 7 and 7:30 a.m. this morning. “We sent out a message to all the parents telling them what was happening,” she said.
A screenshot of the threat that was made last night on Snapchat reads that there would be a ‘live shooting” in Union City and Obion Co. Schools at 8:15 a.m. today. It says, “I aware no students should go too school tomorrow morning for your best survival and safety.” The message ends with hashtags “STAY STRONG”, “STOP SCHOOL SHOOTINGS” and “PRAYERS”.
School officials and law enforcement are right now trying to trace the threat and take appropriate action.
Photo of parents picking up kids at UCES by Brent Hinson