BY KYLE LOVERN
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN

NAUGATUCK, W.Va. — Tug Valley High School located in Naugatuck was placed on lockdown for a short time Jan. 31 following a threatening text message that one student allegedly sent to another student.

Mingo County Sheriff Joe Smith confirmed the incident. It occurred in the afternoon at around 1:20 p.m. with the disclosure of the text message.

Sheriff Smith said the student who got the message quickly reported it to a teacher. That faculty member then reported it to the school’s resource officer, Sgt. David Nunley.

“The text basically said this student planned on shooting up the school, so obviously it was a threat that had to be taken very seriously,’ Smith stated.

Sgt. Nunley immediately notified Sheriff Smith of the situation. Several deputies already working in the area also responded to the high school in a matter of minutes.

Smith said the student admitted to sending the text but offered no reason as to why he sent it to the other student.

“We talked to him and a lot of other students who said they had no idea why he did it, that nothing about him or his situation at school seemed out of the ordinary,” the sheriff said. “Thankfully, the incident didn’t turn into something really serious.”

Smith credited Principal Tamra Ferris and the school’s staff and students for handling the situation as calmly and as organized as possible.

The sheriff also praised his deputies for their quick response and work in the potentially volatile situation.

“I think it really showed that all the drills our officers and the schools have had dealing with a situation like this paid off in a big way,” Smith concluded. “Everyone handled the lockdown about as well as anyone could expect.”

Thankfully the situation did not turn into a life-threatening incident.