Hilton Head Island High threats may be linked, officials say

Officials at Hilton Head Island High School waited nearly three weeks to alert parents to a message received March 4 warning students not to come to school Tuesday.

The warning, found in a vandalized boys bathroom, prompted rumors of possible shootings and bombings – and a spike in student absences – Hilton Head High principal Amanda O’Nan said Wednesday.

The Beaufort County Sheriff's Office is investigating the March 4 warning and Tuesday’s bomb threat, according to Capt. Bob Bromage. A connection between the two incidents hasn't been ruled out, he said. The spread of rumors surrounding the early March warning led O'Nan to notify parents, and prompted the school to request a greater police presence on campus.

“There was no direct, specific threat; in fact it was wide open to interpretation,” O’Nan said, referring to the March 4 warning and adding that it had been previously reported to law enforcement.

Bromage confirmed his office had been made aware of the March 4 warning.

Both O’Nan and Bromage declined to discuss the specific wording of either warning.

O’Nan first notified parents of the March 4 warning Monday via email. The email, which O'Nan shared with the Island Packet, said the warning did not mention “a shooting nor bomb” but that “the rumors have gotten out of control.” Because the vandalism warned students not to come to school Tuesday, the school rescheduled a routine “drug and safety search” – carried out by the sheriff’s department – to occur on that day, O’Nan said.

“We unfortunately have to deal with vandalism throughout the year,” O'Nan said, explaining why parents were not initially notified of the March 4 vandalism.

“What warranted my heightened alert was all those rumors about, ‘Oh, there's gonna be a shooting, there's gonna be a bomb,’” she said, explaining why she emailed parents Monday.

About 300 of Hilton Head Island High School’s approximately 1,300 students did not come to school Tuesday. There were about 200 absences Wednesday.

Tuesday’s bomb threat was reported to O'Nan at 1:59 p.m., after the morning's drug and safety search had concluded. A student discovered the threat in the boys bathroom near the cafeteria. The sheriff's department responded and, at 2:47 p.m., issued an email advisory notifying the public of the search for an “incendiary device” at the school.

“No incendiary device was found,” Bromage said. “It was determined that it was a … hoax. But that hoax is felony, and that (message) needs to be out there.”

O'Nan said Hilton Head High was operating as usual Wednesday. She also said police officers were on campus continuing their investigation.

“I haven't received an update as far as identifying anybody,” Bromage said Wednesday. “But obviously we take these things very seriously and will pursue charges.”

This story was originally published March 30, 2016 at 5:37 PM with the headline "Hilton Head Island High threats may be linked, officials say."