(THEODORE, Ala.) - Word of a shooting threat at a local middle school had parents on guard Thursday. Mobile Police say a Hankins Middle School student threatened to "shoot up the school" on Facebook.
"I didn't know any of this until you told me," said Betty Williams.
Parents say they were left in the dark about a student's Facebook post that threatened a school shooting. The school never went into lock down and an alert never went out to parents.
"It really depends on the situation," said Marcie McNeal with the Mobile County Public School System.
McNeal says parents weren't notified because there was not an immediate threat.
"The student did not come to school today. So there was no need for a lock down, alert. The school went on as regular," said McNeal.
But that didn't stop the rumor mill from churning. We spoke with parents off-camera who pulled their kids out early because they heard the threat still existed.
"They're not doing what they should do," said Williams.
Mobile Police were on campus Thursday to make sure nothing happened.
"Anytime you get information like that you have to take it seriously,"said Cpl. Chris Levy.
The student's name has not been released. No charges have been filed. Police and school officials say the incident is still being investigated.
"We want to just ensure that everyone is safe and sound and we can continue back to the business of learning," said McNeal.
