ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) - False information circulating on social media about a supposed active shooter at Dougherty County schools is causing concern among parents and community members.

Dougherty County School System officials told WALB News 10 Friday, Sept. 18 there is no truth to rumors of an active shooter, and there is no threat to any of its schools.

Earlier posts circulating online referenced Albany Middle School and contained threatening language toward students. The Dougherty County School System said the posts appear to be connected to the broader “Cat in the Hat” social media trend that has circulated in other communities.

Although the posts appear connected to the broader trend, officials said the incidents are not related.

Concerned parents arrived at Albany Middle School on Friday to pick up their children after word of the threat spread online. One student said he called his mother after hearing classmates discuss a list of names.

“It’s been a lot of killings going on in schools. We were concerned,” said parent Tee Christian. “We don’t want it to happen in Albany because it’s been happening in other places.”

Police increased patrols at Albany Middle School following Thursday’s incident, but the district did not send an alert to families until shortly after 8 a.m. Friday, prompting questions from some parents regarding the timing.

“...APD’s alert notice mentioned they had been in contact with [DCSS] and that they were coordinating with [DCSS],” Dougherty County School System Superintendent Kenneth Dyer said. “And so we felt as though we would send our alert out this morning, reinforcing that and letting them know that school would operate normally.”

Officials are urging parents, students, and community members not to share or repost the threatening content, saying continued circulation can create unnecessary fear and make it more difficult to identify the original source.

Superintendent Dyer reiterated the preparedness between local law enforcement departments and the school system following Thursday night’s incident.

“They all had officers on-site outside of our schools for visible police presence, while our SROs were both on-site, outside, and inside the buildings to show the enhanced law,” he said. “So it takes everyone working together to combat these threats,

Dougherty County School System officials said they will continue monitoring the situation and will communicate with families through the Infinite Campus communication portal if additional information becomes available.

WALB is working to learn more and will update this story as additional information becomes available.

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