According to Southampton County Sheriff Jack Stutts, the Sheriff’s Office got word yesterday around lunch time that a person with local ties to the area – but has not lived here in several years – made a threatening post on social media.

Stutts said it was believed at the time of the post that this person was going to be coming to the area over the holiday. The post made a non-specific threat of violence – however, no particular school or person was mentioned.

After hearing of this threat, Stutts contacted Southampton Academy and Southampton County Public Schools to make them aware of what was going on. The Sheriff’s Office also increased patrols at both the academy and the public schools yesterday and is continuing to do that today for precaution.

Southampton Academy took the initiative to close today, as they were only going to open for half the day anyway.

Southampton Academy Headmaster Scott Wasdin sent a press release to parents yesterday evening stating, “Earlier today, my office was contacted by local law enforcement, informing us of a social media posting that included potentially dangerous language directed at local schools. It did not specifically reference the Southampton Academy campus, not did it name any student or staff member. However, our board, administration, and faculty takes nothing more seriously than the safety of your children and grandchildren. With that thought firmly in mind, we made the decision to cancel the academic day tomorrow, choosing to err on the side of tremendous caution with the well being of our students primarily in mind.”

Southampton County Public Schools remained open today, and according to Stutts, there has been no credible threat made to any Southampton schools today.

On Friday morning, the Sheriff’s Office received information that this person is not anywhere close to Southampton County and unlikely to come here. The Sheriff’s Office is currently confirming the location of this person.

More information will be given, as it becomes available.