PUNTA GORDA, Fla. -- Students at Charlotte High School probably noticed a larger police presence on campus Tuesday. That's because the Punta Gorda Police Department stepped up patrols, following what was initially believed to be a threat of violence on social media.
The department got wind Monday of student's statements which claimed they wanted people to know their name and finally get respect. They also found posts hinting toward violence.
So additional resource officers monitored the campus as a precaution.
"Everyone was pretty much on high alert, because you just can't let something like this go by. You can't say 'oh well, it's just an idle threat.' Because if you do that and something happens, it wasn't worth it," says Michael Riley with Charlotte County Public Schools.
The police department, however, later realized that the statements in question were simply referring to a planned birthday party. So students were never in any danger.
