HOUSTON — Nerves were on edge at three Houston-area schools Monday after threats of violence spread online.
District police and local law enforcement investigated the threats and determined they were bogus like dozens of similar cases at schools and colleges all over the country.
Lamar High School threat
The principal at Lamar High School in HISD sent a message to parents about the precautionary lockdown and assured them that all students were safe.
The threat was circulating among students at the school on Westheimer in the River Oaks area, according to principal Rita Graves.
The bogus threats were investigated by HISD police, the Precinct 1 Constable's Office and Metro police.
Video from our KHOU 11 crew showed vehicles lined up outside the school and several parents gathered in front.
"The kids don't deserve to go through this because it's one idiot or one sick human being that would ever send such a message out," Dennis Laviage, whose daughter is a senior, told us.
He said his daughter saw the threat on Snapchat.
"Those kids that are in there right now, they don't have any desire to be at the school and the parents don't want their kids coming back," Laviage said. "Our's has two weeks left before she graduates and she's scared right now, so that's our concern."
Read the full message.
"This is an important message for Lamar High School parents, students, faculty and staff from Principal Graves. A threat was posted on social media and is circulating among our students. As a precautionary measure, we went into lockdown mode. All students are safe at this time. We will notify you when the lockdown is lifted. HISD police are investigating. We take all threats seriously as the safety of our students and staff is always our top priority. Again, this is an important message for Lamar High School parents, students, faculty and staff from Principal Graves."
Lamar CISD school threats
A non-credible social media threat was also spread about shootings at two Lamar Consolidated Independent School District schools in Rosenberg.
Lamar CISD said the threats involved Lamar Junior High and Lamar Consolidated High School.
The district said it beefed up police presence at both schools but didn't think lockdowns were necessary.
Some worried parents weren't taking any chances and went to the schools to pick up their kids.