No suspicious items found after bomb threat called in at Hough High School, police say

CORNELIUS, N.C. — Police said no suspicious items were found at William Amos Hough High School in Cornelius after a bomb threat prompted an evacuation Friday afternoon.

Cornelius Police said they responded to the school at around 1:30 p.m. after a person called the school and said a bomb was somewhere on campus. A Charlotte-Mecklenburg School official said the school went on lockdown due to police activity.

Officers said students and staff members were then evacuated as investigators searched inside and outside the school. Chopper 9 Skyzoom flew over the school and could see hundreds of students being evacuated.

“Terrifying. Terrifying for sure,” student Anna Partridge told Channel 9.

According to police, no suspicious items were found on campus, and an all-clear was given at the school.

A source told Channel 9 that Bailey Middle School was also placed on lockdown for security purposes, but it has since been lifted.

Detectives said they are working to determine who made the bomb threat. Anyone with information on who may have called is asked to contact the Cornelius Police Department at 704-892-7773.

Police had the entire area in front of the high school blocked. Channel 9′s Ken Lemon said parents could be seen getting out of their cars and running up to the police line.

Partridge said she was in class when her teacher announced they were going into a lockdown drill. She said they sat on the floor for 20 minutes before school staff moved them outside.

“We were sitting silently on the floor to make sure no one could see us or hear us,” she said.

Parents also received this message from the school: “We are currently in a lockdown situation. When we have updates they will be communicated to you. Please do not come to the school.”

Partridge said students were told to call their parents and tell them they were OK.

“It was scary. We were shaking. We couldn’t find any information,” said aunt Tracey Hayes.

Drivers were asked to avoid the Bailey Road area for several hours as authorities searched the school. Parents were directed to the student parking lot to pick up students.

No other details have been released at this time.

This is an ongoing investigation. Return to this story for updates.

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