Schools mull closing

Schools mull closing after shooting is threatened
By ZAC GOLDSTEIN
Staff Writer Daily Advance
Friday, April 27, 2007

Elizabeth City-Pasquotank school officials were weighing Thursday whether to cancel classes today after the superintendent received, for the second week in a row, a phone call warning of a potential school shooting at Elizabeth City Middle School.Tony Stewart, superintendent of the Elizabeth City-Pasquotank Public Schools, said he received a call Thursday morning from an unidentified female warning that there would be a shooting at ECMS today.He said the latest call was similar to the one he received on April 20, but the caller's voice was not the same. He also said the most recent threat did not specify what time the shooting would occur. Last week's call indicated a shooting would take place at 1 p.m.After calling in law enforcement to investigate last Friday, Stewart locked down the middle school and nearby Pasquotank County High School and Northside Elementary. No weapons were discovered in any school and no one was injured in the incident.Stewart said parents were notified about the latest threat via the School Connects automated call system at 3:30 p.m. Thursday. He said a decision regarding the possible closing of schools will be made early this morning. Parents are advised to monitor local media and Channel 8 Television for an announcement.Pasquotank Sheriff Randy Cartwright confirmed Thursday that his department is investigating the latest threat.The department is also offering a $2,000 reward for information related to the recent threats to school safety. Anyone with information is asked to call Crimeline at 335-5555, the sheriff's department at 338-2191 or e-mail sheriff@co.pasquotank.nc.us.As of 4:30 p.m. Thursday, no threats to surrounding school districts had been reported.(Contact Zac Goldstein at zgoldstein@coxnc.com)

Schools mull closing after shooting is threatened

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