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Scott.Noll@wreg.com
(Memphis 12/3/2009) Threatening texts messages sent to two students at a Memphis high school prompted an increase in security.
The 16 year old and 18 year old student who received the messages last night attend Melrose High.
Police say the texts referred to retaliation for a deadly shooting that happened Tuesday night just a few blocks from the school.
The school day ended without incident but that did little to calm students and parents' fears.
From the time students arrived, until the afternoon bell, Memphis police saturated the neighborhood around Melrose High School in response to text message threats sent to two students.
Police aren't releasing what was written, but say the messages warned of retaliation for Tuesday night's deadly shooting a few blocks away.
20 Year old Terrence Robinson was shot in the head as he sat the porch of a home on Fizer.
"I don't know who would want to kill my guy like that," said Debbie Jones, a Melrose High senior who was friends with Robinson.
When word of a threat against her school began spreading, Jones got scared and called her mom to pick her up early.
"It don't make any sense," said the 12th grader. "There's babies in that school, under 16, 15, 14 years old in that school," Jones said about the threats.
Starr henry got a call from her daughter too telling her about the threats.
"I thought I was dreaming," said Henry. "I just jumped up and i was like, what?"
She jumped in a cab, and rushed to pick up her 10th grader.
"There's kids all over the hall, police everywhere," said Henry explaining the scene inside the school. "It's a mess in there, it's a mess."
In a statement, Memphis City School's Director of Security, Gerarld Darling, said the MCS is taking the threat against students seriously, and working proactively with Memphis police to ensure the safety of students and staff.
But Jones worries the act of violence that claimed her friend, will lead to another.
"I can't come back tomorrow," explained Jones. "If I still hear that rumor, I'm not coming back."
While parents, like Henry say they're not ready to take chances, until a gunman, and whoever is behind the threats that followed is caught.
"I'm not taking any chances on my daughter," she said. "I ain't trying to bury no child."
An MCS spokesman said, despite the threats, there were no problems today at Melrose, and no weapons were found inside the building.
Memphis police say the extra officers will remain outside the school until further notice.
- Text message threats lead to stepped-up security outside Memphis high school
- Threats warned of retaliation for fatal shooting earlier this week
- Messages sent to 16 year old and 18 year old girls who attend Melrose High
Scott.Noll@wreg.com
(Memphis 12/3/2009) Threatening texts messages sent to two students at a Memphis high school prompted an increase in security.
The 16 year old and 18 year old student who received the messages last night attend Melrose High.
Police say the texts referred to retaliation for a deadly shooting that happened Tuesday night just a few blocks from the school.
The school day ended without incident but that did little to calm students and parents' fears.
From the time students arrived, until the afternoon bell, Memphis police saturated the neighborhood around Melrose High School in response to text message threats sent to two students.
Police aren't releasing what was written, but say the messages warned of retaliation for Tuesday night's deadly shooting a few blocks away.
20 Year old Terrence Robinson was shot in the head as he sat the porch of a home on Fizer.
"I don't know who would want to kill my guy like that," said Debbie Jones, a Melrose High senior who was friends with Robinson.
When word of a threat against her school began spreading, Jones got scared and called her mom to pick her up early.
"It don't make any sense," said the 12th grader. "There's babies in that school, under 16, 15, 14 years old in that school," Jones said about the threats.
Starr henry got a call from her daughter too telling her about the threats.
"I thought I was dreaming," said Henry. "I just jumped up and i was like, what?"
She jumped in a cab, and rushed to pick up her 10th grader.
"There's kids all over the hall, police everywhere," said Henry explaining the scene inside the school. "It's a mess in there, it's a mess."
In a statement, Memphis City School's Director of Security, Gerarld Darling, said the MCS is taking the threat against students seriously, and working proactively with Memphis police to ensure the safety of students and staff.
But Jones worries the act of violence that claimed her friend, will lead to another.
"I can't come back tomorrow," explained Jones. "If I still hear that rumor, I'm not coming back."
While parents, like Henry say they're not ready to take chances, until a gunman, and whoever is behind the threats that followed is caught.
"I'm not taking any chances on my daughter," she said. "I ain't trying to bury no child."
An MCS spokesman said, despite the threats, there were no problems today at Melrose, and no weapons were found inside the building.
Memphis police say the extra officers will remain outside the school until further notice.
