LANCASTER COUNTY, S.C. — More than 260 students at a Kershaw high school decided to stay home Wednesday after a school shooting threat was found in a campus bathroom.
The threat, which mentioned a school shooting on Feb. 22, was found in a bathroom at Andrew Jackson High School, officials told Channel 9.
Hundreds of students at the middle school next door also stayed home.
Seven extra deputies were at Andrew Jackson Wednesday, inside and outside the building. School officials said that a student saw a threatening message in the bathroom on Tuesday and reported it.
"Basically, it described that there would be a violent event today, a shooting," said the school official.
[READ MORE: Police investigating threats made at several local schools]
The school sent out a message to all parents, and nearly half of the 640 students did not show up for class on Wednesday.
Parents were notified by phone.
"it could have been a hoax, or whatever, but I didn't want to take any chances," said Mandy Caskey, who kept her two students at home.
The threat mentioned a shooting at school on this date. School sent out a message to all parents. Nearly half of 640 students stayed home
— Greg Suskin (@GSuskinWSOC9) February 22, 2017
The middle school is a stone's throw away from the high school, on the same property, but middle school parents were not notified about the threat.
"The campuses are so close, they should have contacted the middle school parents as well," said Jennifer Blackmon, who kept her son, Tanner, home from school. "I've heard a lot about kids staying home, even in the middle school."
Parents thought metal detectors were going to be set up at the high school, but school officials determined they had enough deputies to make that step unnecessary.
A spokesperson for the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office told Channel 9 that deputies are investigating the threat and have also boosted patrols at Lancaster, Indian Land and Buford high schools.
"I just chalk it up to meanness. I hope they catch the kid who did this," said Sue Mackey, a grandparent of a student.
School officials told Channel 9 that they will determine on Wednesday evening if they need a greater law enforcement presence on school grounds.
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