CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Days after a deadly drive-by shooting police blamed on Charlotte high school students, and a week after gunshots disrupted a football game last Friday, the high schools named in recent security threats are playing Friday night football games once again.
Friday night:
- Chambers High School hosted Hickory Ridge High School (Cabarrus County)
- Hopewell High School played at Independence High School (Charlotte)
- North Mecklenburg High School hosted Berry High School (Charlotte)
- West Mecklenburg High School hosted Harding University High School (Charlotte)
Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools told WCNC Charlotte they are adding the following security measures to all high school football games for the rest of the season:
- No elementary or middle school student will be allowed to enter the stadium without a parent or guardian.
- All students and children must sit in the bleachers and stands. They will not be allowed to walk around during game time except for going to the restroom or concession stand.
- Place additional security and police in the parking lot after the game.
- There will be increased police and campus security presence at the football games.
The new rules were played out at West Mecklenburg High School Friday night.
Security checked and used wands to scan people in, making sure they weren't armed.
"So that made me feel safer knowing that people aren't coming in with weapons or anything," said Jamie Jackson, a fan who turned out to watch the game.
Fewer people filled the stands than what the school is used to seeing.
No incidents occurred at the Friday night games.
On Thursday, CMS Superintendent Earnest Winston confirmed the school district was "aware of threats on social media against our schools."
"We have no evidence that any of them are credible," he said during a brief news conference.
Some schools added extra security measures Thursday, according to Winston.
"We know that local law enforcement has connected some of the recent gun violence to CMS students.
Around 11:45 p.m. Tuesday, gunmen opened fire on a home in northwest Charlotte. The shooting killed 3-year-old Asiah Figueroa and injured his 4-year-old sister.
The Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department said those captured on security video firing weapons into the home are believed to be high school students connected to North Mecklenburg, Chambers and Hopewell high schools.
CMS did confirm Thursday attendance was impacted after threats against school campuses appeared on social media this week. The district could not provide specific numbers or validate the authenticity of any of the threats. Last Friday, the football game at Chambers High School was disrupted by nearby gunshots.
