A 17-year-old Gaston County teen who has a history of trouble with the law was booked into Gaston County Jail early Thursday morning under a $250,000 bond after using social media to say he would be "shooting up Hunter Huss High School."
Hunter Huss High is expected to have increased security at the school today even though Shiquan Eleek Ratchford of 1026 W. Seventh Ave. remains in jail under charges of false report of mass violence at education property, cyberstalking and disorderly conduct at school. Students at the west Gastonia school reportedly had to go through metal detectors before entering the school.
Gaston County Police say Ratchford used the social media site Facebook on Wednesday to post this: "B---ch, I will be shooting up Hunter Huss High School tomorrow."
Ratchford made the post despite knowing that at the time he did not have a handgun or other weapon to carry out the threat, according to police.
Still, the threat would cause a person to think a physical injury could occur to two or more people at the school, according to police. The threat also led to multiple students not going to school, which interfered with their education, according to police.
Ratchford was booked into Gaston County Jail four times in 2017 on charges ranging from breaking and entering and obtaining property under false pretenses. In February 2017, police charged Ratchford with misdemeanor assault and battery and misdemeanor disorderly conduct at school. He was found not guilty of both charges.
Of the three new charges Ratchford faces only the false report of mass violence is a felony charge.
Ratchford was booked into Gaston County Jail after 1 a.m. Thursday. The investigation continues and anyone with information is asked to contact Gaston County Police Detective J.M. Moore at 704-866-3320 or Crimestoppers at 704-861- 8000.
Check back for updates to this developing story.