The Orange County Sheriff’s Office charged a former Cedar Ridge High School student on Thursday for making threats against the school on social media that caused the district to increase the campus’ law enforcement presence.

A release from the sheriff’s office on Thursday evening said deputies charged 18-year-old Kenyon Cameron for communicating a threat of mass violence on educational property. Investigators received reports earlier in the week about a threat made during a lone live feed on social media, but was not able to find any evidence. As the week continued, however, the sheriff’s office said community members sent several emails, texts, and tips to both its investigators and the Orange County Schools district — which led them on Thursday to find a series of social media posts made by Cameron.

The release from the sheriff’s office described the posts as “alarming” and that they “elevated concern” for the safety of the Cedar Ridge community. According to the warrant paperwork filed by the sheriff’s office, Cameron made posts on Instagram captioned, “Got my AK-47 on me, 24-7,” “I got a surprise for ya’ll Tmr,” and “Run Run don’t trip.”

Cedar Ridge High School Principal Anna Hipps alerted families to the possible threats through a pair of emails on Thursday: one sent just before 9 a.m. and another sent minutes before the sheriff’s office released its information at 6 p.m.

“Over the past few days, social media posts which threatened harm to our school have circulated widely,” Hipps wrote in the latter email. “I want to thank everyone who reported your concerns to us and to the authorities, so that we could work with law enforcement to investigate everything that was shared with us.

“We all know this has been an unsettling week for our school community,” she continued, “and will continue to have an increased law enforcement presence at Cedar Ridge High School on Friday as we wrap up the week together.”

“Our highest priority is to provide a safe and welcoming environment where everyone can teach and learn, and all our attention goes to that priority,” Hipps later wrote. “When anything affects the safety or security of our school community, I will provide you with as much information as I can, as soon as I can.”

The Orange County Sheriff’s Office said Cameron — who has a Chapel Hill address — is under a $5,000 secured bond at the county’s detention center. He will make his first appearance in court for the charge on Friday at 2 p.m.

Editor’s Note: An earlier version of this story incorrectly spelled Anna Hipps’ name as Anna Riggs. The article has since been updated to change those errors.

 

Photo via CRA Associates, Inc.

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