Social media threats concern local parent

HUMBOLDT, Tenn. — A local high school student is afraid for her life after her mother says she has received threatening messages from classmates over social media. The victim’s mother said it went from her being picked on at school to death threats online.

Darlethia Walker reached out to WBBJ 7 Eyewitness News on Monday morning looking for answers. Her daughter, a student at Humboldt High School, is afraid to go back to school after a weekend of threats on social media. Police and the school system said they are investigating, but she is still concerned.

“Kids can get killed. They can kill themselves,” Walker said. “You never know what can go on because of all of this. When you threaten someone’s life, that’s nothing to play with.”

Walker said over the weekend two different Humboldt High School students sent her 9th grader messages over text and Facebook.

“They said they were going to kill her when she came back to school,” Walker said. “They called her all kinds of names and just crazy stuff on social media.”

One message, which Walker said is from a freshman classmate, reads, “We’re all coming for you Monday so be ready. You’re going to be dead you ugly [expletive]”

“She has hydrocephalus, and they said they were going to knock the shunt out of her head,” Walker said. “They said they were going to bring a knife to school and cut it out.”

Another message reads, “I have the knife in my bag. We’re all going to kill her in the morning.”

Walker said she took the messages to Humboldt police who said they are now investigating.

“The officer said they were threats, not bullying anymore,” Walker said. “It’s threats and it needed to be taken care of.”

We reached out to Humboldt Superintendent Dr. Versie Hamlett who said she was aware of the threats. By phone she released this statement: “We’re also investigating this incident. The safety of our students is our No. 1 priority.”

“I think the girls responsible should be punished,” Walker said. “Maybe it will wake the rest of the bullies up out there.”

Walker said she took her daughter out of school Monday and expects to keep her out until Humboldt police and the school system say the situation has been taken care of.