Parents tired of 'repeating cycle' after HISD, LCISD campuses get social media threats on same day

ROSENBERG, Texas (KTRK) -- Lamar Consolidated ISD said that a threat claiming there would be shootings at two of its campuses on Monday was not credible.

Still, parents arrived to pick up their students at Lamar Junior High and Lamar Consolidated High School.

The social media threat circulating online said there would be a shooting at the campuses, but the district said that after Lamar CISD police and local authorities investigated, it wasn't deemed a credible threat.

The district said no campus is on hold, adding that an increased police presence at the schools Monday was out of an abundance of caution.

"We have encouraged all staff, students, and community members to be extra vigilant today and that if they have any safety concerns, please report them immediately to a campus administrator or police officer," Lamar CISD said in a statement. "Office and campus staff are working quickly to verify credentials so that the parents who are at the campus may pick up their student."

The district said that it is believed the threat is part of a hoax that has been circulating nationwide at other schools.

This comes the same day as there was also a threat posted on social media circulating at Lamar High School in Houston ISD.

According to a message from Principal Rita Graves, Lamar High School was placed into lockdown mode as a precaution.

"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," the message said.

Parents, who waited outside the school to pick up their students, said their children shared with them the screenshot of a Snapchat message circulating among students. The sender was listed as "unknown" and they threatened to shoot up the school and said they had a bomb in their backpack.

It wasn't immediately known if the threat was part of the hoax that affected Lamar Consolidated High School and the junior high.

Several police agencies, including Harris County Precinct 1 Constable's Office, Houston ISD police, Metro police, and the Houston Police Department, went inside the school to make sure there was not a threat. They also used police K9s to search for threats.

"Parents are in a panic. Kids are scared," Emilian White, a parent, said. "Every day, something is going on, and it's totally ridiculous that kids have to go through this in their minds instead of getting their studies and education in. Parents are leaving work. I'm leaving what I have to do."

White and several other parents, including Annie Cushenberry, recalled being outside the school at the end of March during another lockdown.

Cushenberry said when she got the text from her daughter that there was a threat, she thought, "Here we go again."

"This is becoming a repeating cycle, but you have to take all of them seriously because you never know," Cushenberry said.

Houston ISD sent Eyewitness News the following statement:

"HISD takes the safety and security of students, staff, and visitors seriously. Our Police Department handles all law enforcement matters internally, but we will call in outside law enforcement when or if needed. Each case is handled on a case-by-case basis, and the campus administration works closely with law enforcement to determine the safest options before resuming normal campus operations. We are constantly reviewing our policies and practices to ensure that we provide the safest possible learning environment for everyone."

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