Dozens of parents lined up today to take their kids out of Dumbarton Middle School after receiving texts from their children saying that there was a shooting or a threat of violence.
Several things apparently came together to cause the panic.
First, a DMS student recently posted a picture of himself on social media holding a weapon. Second, workers doing construction caused a power outage. Third, another student said the power outage was related to an imminent threat of violence.
Police said there was no gun at DMS today.
Parents who came to get their children said that they initially thought the threat was real and imminent. Students reported that many of their classmates were crying and hysterical.
“I have never been more scared in my entire life than in that 15 minute drive from my office to DMS after receiving a call that there were reports of a shooter at school,” said Allison Baker, who has an 8th grader at the school.
Another parent, Melanie Bell, also came to the school after receiving a text from her son.
“There were six police cars out front,” said Bell, who brought her two DMS students home with her. “Nowadays it’s hard to believe when people say ‘things are under control’ and I just felt better having my kids with me.”
“We take this situation very seriously and appropriate consequences will be assigned as outlined in the Student Handbook,” Principal Susan Harris said in a statement, referring to the student’s comment about a threat.
She added that Baltimore County Police and the School Resource Officer are investigating the social media post.
“I want to remind our families that it is important for all of us — students and parents alike — to inform school staff or police any time you or your child sees, hears, reads, or knows of anything that is suspicious or that may pose a threat to the school or its students,” Harris said.
i go to the school it was crazy that day but at least nothing happened an every body is safe