Police: Threatening text puts Newton-Conover HS under lockdown

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By Ken Lemon

NEWTON, N.C. — Channel 9 learned about the message that sparked this intense scene Wednesday outside Newton-Conover High School.

Authorities had their guns drawn and students with their hands up walked out of the school to anxious parents waiting to be reunited with their children.

Reporter Ken Lemon found out why officers took the threat made by the 16-year-old suspect, James Driver, so seriously.

James Driver was a student Newton-Conover until last year, when he left to be home-schooled.

Investigators said he still had some friends at the school and reportedly sent some of them text messages Wednesday warning them to get to a safe place immediately. The messages were followed by emojis of a gun and another symbol associated with death.

Administrators put the school under lockdown and called police after multiple students reported the messages.

The administrators reported there was a student on campus with a gun.

"We take all of these threats very seriously and our main goal is safety," Newton police Maj. Tim Hayes said.

Students were moved into locked classrooms and some waited in a supply closet, thinking there was a shooter in the building.

Word of the threat quickly spread on social media.

"There is a lot of misinformation that flows through social media and we try to manage that the best we possibly can," Hayes said.

Eleven agencies responded and later learned the person accused of making the threat wasn't on campus at all.

He was arrested at home and now faces the felony charge of making a false report of mass violence.

​Driver went to court Thursday morning and got a court-appointed attorney.

Lemon asked Driver if he regretted what he did.

"I have no comment at this time. I'm sorry," Driver said.

There were counselors on campus Thursday to help students. Some students checked out early or just stayed home.

Police said at some point they are going to sit down with other first responders, look at how they responded to this incident and use it as a learning tool.

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