When Loney recently reached out to an administrator with the district, she was told metal detectors could be seen as “unwelcoming” inside the schools, but she believes the installation of the detectors could be framed as a way to promote safety the way they are in airports and other secure buildings. ![]() “There are a lot of people that don't know what the heck to do, but actually want to see some change.” “I'm going to continue to kind of crusade through this because I don't know what else to do at this point,” she said. Loney said although she and other parents don’t exactly know how to address the threat of violence in schools, they plan to advocate for metal detectors and enhanced safety measures. The threat of violence at school has deeply impacted all of Ashley Loney’s school-aged sons, who range in age from 9 to 17 years old. “I feel like there has been very little that has progressed in New Hanover County,” Loney said, “and we continue to see upticks of potential violence, guns being found, threats being made.” Loney, who also has children enrolled at Carolina Beach Elementary School, said the recent incidents have prompted her to advocate for more safety measures at New Hanover County Schools. Anderson Elementary and Murray Middle schools are also located on the campus. Officials from New Hanover County Schools alerted the families of Veterans Park Campus about the incident. The threat came a day after a loaded gun was found in possession of a student on the campus. ![]() “Law enforcement authorities are actively investigating the matter, and the same threat is affecting school districts across North Carolina, Florida, and Alabama,” he wrote in an emailed statement to the StarNews. More: Bond set for teen charged with bringing loaded gun to Ashley High School More: After another weapon found at Ashley High, officials stress 'taking back our schools' The school system is taking “appropriate actions” to respond to Friday's online threat, according to Josh Smith, chief communications officer for New Hanover County Schools. The New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office was present at Ashley High School on Friday morning with several vehicles parked near a pick-up area near the high school’s entrance. He is being held under a secure custody order and has been charged with possession of a firearm on educational property, possession of a firearm with an altered serial number, possession of a firearm by a minor, possession of marijuana, misdemeanor assault on a school employee and resisting, delaying or obstructing a government official, according to the release. ![]() The juvenile turned himself in at the New Hanover County Detention Facility. On Friday afternoon, officers with the New Hanover County Sheriff's Office arrested a 17-year-old male in connection with a handgun found on Thursday, according to a news release from the sheriff's office. In that time, two guns were found on the Ashley High School campus in separate incidents. The online threat capped an alarming two weeks for students and parents across New Hanover County. ![]() She immediately told him to head back home. Ashley Loney’s 17-year-old son was on his way to Ashley High School on Friday when he texted her a screenshot of a threat made against the school.
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