Three Wake County schools locked down because of threat

Heritage High, Heritage Middle and Heritage Elementary schools remain on lockdown because of a threat, a spokesman for the town of Wake Forest said Tuesday afternoon.

"The Wake Forest Police Department continues to investigate a threat against Heritage Middle School," spokesman Bill Crabtree said in an email around 3:30 p.m. Tuesday. "In the meantime, the school is taking extra precautions for students being picked up today either early or from regular carpool."

"School officials are requiring parents of students who walk to school to make arrangements to pick up their child via carpool," Crabtree said. "Parents who arrive at the school to pick up their child should be prepared to show a photo ID to a Wake Forest police officer."

Crabtree asked parents to bear with police and school personnel. "Anyone who picks up their child is asked to be patient as school officials coordinate with law enforcement to ensure the safety and accountability of all students," he said.

All three schools remain on community lockdown, Crabtree said. "All after school activities at Heritage Middle School and Heritage Elementary School have been canceled.," he said. "Additional information will be released as it becomes available."

Earlier, the Wake County Public School System said Heritage High and Heritage Middle were on lockdown because of a specific threat.

"We locked down both schools — the high school and the middle school — because it's that specific of a threat," said schools spokeswoman Lisa Luten.

She did not disclose the nature of the threat but said it came about 8:30 Tuesday morning.

Crabtree explained a community lockdown.

"In a community lockdown, all exterior doors of the school are locked and no one is allowed to enter or exit the building until an all-clear announcement is received from police," he said. "The school operates 'business as usual' with the exception of no outside activities."

This story was originally published March 20, 2018 at 11:33 AM with the headline "Three Wake County schools locked down because of threat."