There will be increased security Thursday when Edgecombe County students return to school.
A threatening voicemail left at the district's central office prompted a remote learning day on Wednesday, keeping students at home for a third day after two days of icy roads left behind by last weekend's storm.
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Edgecombe County Public Schools administrative offices got a call Tuesday night with a message saying that bombs had been planted. The message did not specify which Edgecombe County school(s) or building(s) would be targeted.
"A threatening voicemail was left at the ECPS central office from an anonymous number. We immediately contacted the Edgecombe County Sheriff’s Office. Out of an abundance of caution, our law enforcement partners have recommended that staff and students remain home tomorrow. We do not make this decision lightly, especially in light of recent school closures. However, the safety of our students and staff is our highest priority."Edgecombe County Public Schools message to parents, Jan. 27, 2026
The Edgecombe County Sheriff's Office recommended that schools remain closed Wednesday to allow for an investigation and a search of all schools, the administration said.
Investigators with the sheriff's office linked the threat to similar ones made against school systems across the country, and a coordinated effort identified the persons behind the threats, the sheriff's office said.
"These suspects live out of state. We want to make it clear that there is no physical threat to ECPS schools, staff, or students," the sheriff's office assured parents.
Last week, additional schools in Edgecombe and Nash counties dealt with more social media threats.
Social media threats against Nash County schools
Additional police officers were also stationed at four Nash County schools on Wednesday after a social media threat. According to police officers in Rocky Mount, one person was arrested in connection to one of those threats.
Red Oak Elementary, Red Oak Middle School, Northern Nash High School and Rocky Mount High School all posted that there will be "increased law enforcement presence on campus" while the credibility of the threat is investigated, according to Nash County Public Schools.
All four schools said the threat was posted on social media early Wednesday, but limited information was provided.
According to a release from the Rocky Mount Police Department, officers learned the threat against Rocky Mount High School was made by a 16-year-old female student at the school. Police said they arrested the student around noon on Wednesday and charged her with communicating a threat of mass violence on educational property, a felony.
Facebook posts shared by Nash County Public Schools read:
"Parents, we ask that you partner with us by reminding students that threats are serious and are not appropriate under any circumstances. There is never a reason to use threatening language or make social media posts that threaten our campus or others. These behaviors will not be tolerated and carry serious consequences."
This comes as Rocky Mount detectives identified and charged a 12-year-old student from Rocky Mount Preparatory on Tuesday, Jan. 20 for communicating a threat of mass violence on educational property. They were taken to juvenile services, officers said.
Rocky Mount police said the department values the “strong partnership” with Nash County Public Schools and will “maintain a zero-tolerance approach to any threats of violence against our students and staff.”
“We are committed to thoroughly investigating all threats and protecting the safety and security of our school community,” police said in a statement.