Anonymous phone call alleging gun threat at Henry Clay was hoax, school officials say
An anonymous phone call Friday morning alleging that a student was taking a gun to Henry Clay High School was false and unfounded, said Fayette County district spokesperson Dia Davidson-Smith.
Corye Franklin, principal of Henry Clay, said in a letter to families Friday that a rumor began spreading that alleged a Henry Clay High School student was bringing a weapon to school on a bus.
School leaders, working alongside the Fayette County Public Schools Police Department, quickly launched an investigation, the letter said.
Information was received through an anonymous call to the Lexington Police Department which included a student description and FCPS bus number, Franklin said.
“Working with the Lexington Police Department and FCPS Police, it was determined that this was not a credible threat,” Franklin said.
“False reports have been received numerous times in the past from this untraceable phone number to the Lexington Police Department,“ he said.
Extra safety precautions were being taken at school Friday morning, which included an increased presence of law enforcement officers in and around Henry Clay High School.
Regular protocoal at Henry Clay involves students entering the building through meta detectors “as an added layer of protection,” said Davidson-Smith.
“It is important that our students understand that making threats against a school or bringing a weapon onto school property is a felony under state law,” said Franklin.
Students who are aware of a real threat to safety should share what they have heard or seen with an adult, or anonymous reports can be made through the district STOP tipline, said Davidson-Smith.
