JONES COUNTY, Miss. (WDAM) – The Jones County Sheriff released a statement Friday morning after a week of concerns about rumored threats at area schools.

“This week has brought an unprecedented level of fear and anxiety to the students, parents, immediate and extended family members, teachers and staff of the Jones County School District,” writes Sheriff Joe Berlin.

Threats started circulating on social media after a shooting Oct. 19 at the South Mississippi Fairgrounds in Laurel.

School Superintendent BR Jones said the threats appeared to stem from that incident.

Most of the threats centered around Northeast Jones High School, where the teenager who was shot in the Oct. 19 shooting attended school.

In response to threats on social media, Berlin ordered law enforcement to increase police presence on school campuses in Jones County as a precaution.

“We instituted daily visits by deputies to each school,” Berlin writes, “drastically increased school zone patrols using marked and unmarked patrol units, and launched an investigation into the origin of these threats.

“Our Criminal Investigation Division is working closely with other local, state and federal law enforcement agencies to identify and bring to justice the person or persons who are threatening students, particularly at Northeast Jones High School. We are assured that justice will be swift and severe for the perpetrators of these threats.”

Anyone with information regarding the alleged threats is asked to call the Jones County Sheriff’s Department at (601) 425-3147 or the Jones County School District at (601) 649-5201.

Berlin said his team is committed to seeing this investigation through.

“The safety of our children is our top priority, along with that of the teachers and staff in our schools,” he writes. “We will not rest until justice is served. Our personnel are well trained, equipped and motivated to deal with any threat that arises.”

Berlin ended his statement by asking for patience and cooperation as law enforcement investigates the threats. He writes that fear should not win the day. Instead, he asks for prayers for all those affected.

“While I understand the concern for safety and even fear that has been instilled by these threats, please know that I personally will not let fear rule my life,” Berlin writes. “Please bear with us as we address these threats. Rest assured that every employee at the Jones County Sheriff’s Department is sworn to stand between harm and your family – no matter the cost.

“Please pray for all those affected by the events around us. God bless us all.”

Here is Berlin’s statement in full:

Want more WDAM 7 news in your inbox? Click Here to subscribe to our newsletter.

Copyright 2024 WDAM. All rights reserved.