Students at Worth County High School in Sylvester, Georgia, were dismissed early Thursday afternoon after school officials discovered a message written on a bathroom wall referencing a possible bomb threat.
The message prompted school administrators to immediately contact law enforcement and emergency response agencies. After assessing the situation, officials decided to release students at 1 p.m. Thursday, August 20, as a precaution.
Worth County High School Responds to Threat
School officials said the early dismissal was made out of an abundance of caution while authorities worked to determine whether there was any actual threat to students, faculty, or staff.
All after-school activities and events scheduled at the high school campus were also canceled for Thursday.
Other schools within the Worth County School District remained on their regular schedules and dismissed students at approximately 3 p.m.
No Explosive Device Found
Law enforcement officers conducted a thorough search of the Worth County High School campus following the discovery of the message.
In an update issued at approximately 4:25 p.m., the school district confirmed that the search had been completed and no explosive devices were found.
Officials also confirmed that all Worth County schools are expected to operate on a normal schedule on Friday, August 21.
Investigation Continues
According to the Worth County Sheriff’s Office, officers from the Sylvester Police Department responded to the school and are leading the investigation.
Authorities have not released information about who wrote the message or whether any suspects have been identified.
The investigation remains ongoing as law enforcement works to determine the circumstances surrounding the threatening message.
No Injuries Reported
No injuries were reported during the incident.
School officials thanked students, parents, staff members, and emergency responders for their cooperation and reiterated their commitment to maintaining a safe environment for students and employees.
Anyone with information that could assist investigators is encouraged to contact local law enforcement.
At this time, officials say the school has been cleared and no evidence of an explosive device was discovered.