Parrish Community High says alleged threat unfounded; medical events blamed for two lockdowns

PARRISH, Fla. (WWSB) - Parents and students at Parrish Community High School had a brief scare Thursday morning after an alarm was triggered, a day after threats were reported against the school, officials say. The school will have increased law enforcement presence Friday, officials say.

The Manatee County Sheriff’s Office said Thursday morning there is no active threat. “Information has been circulating that there is a threat. Due to a misunderstanding, an alarm was activated at 10:30 a.m. Deputies are on scene as a precaution and the school is resuming normal operations,” the sheriff’s office said on Twitter.

This comes on the heels of an email sent to parents last night, saying deputies were investigating an alleged threat. “We are calling to inform you that School and District Security are working with the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office to investigate alleged threats ... associated with our school,” the message said.

Manatee school district spokesman Michael Barber told ABC7 the school has had two lockdowns, Wednesday and Thursday morning, “triggered by medical emergencies on campus.”

Barber also said law enforcement and school district security were called to the campus each of the last two days to investigate alleged threats associated with the school.

“Both threats have been investigated and deemed to be unfounded by law enforcement,” Barber said via email Thursday morning.

“The situation at Parrish Community is under control and there is an increased presence of district and law enforcement security to keep the campus calm,” he said.

The school took to social media to dispute rumors that the lockdown was the result of violence, saying that rumors led to chaos. An update posted around 5:30 p.m. reiterated that there was no cause for concern.

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