Standing guard

Whiteville Police Chief Jerry Britt maintains phone contact with his officers at Central Middle School while he and the remaining officers stand guard at Whiteville High School Monday morning following threats of a retaliatory shooting in the aftermath of a fatal drive-by shooting Friday night.

Staff photo by Fuller Royal

Police Chief Jerry Britt called out his entire department today (Monday) to be on the Whiteville High School and Central Middle School campuses.

“We’ve been told of threats of a shooting at the high school. We obviously don’t know what’s going to happen, so we’re going prepared and we’re going to be everywhere at the school,” Britt said early Monday as the fleet of patrol cars left the station at 7:15 a.m.

Precautions were also put in place at West Columbus High School in Cerro Gordo, with security handled by sheriff’s deputies.

The report of a planned shooting reached several law enforcement officers who said they had phone calls at home about the possible crime.

Students at WHS began calling and text messaging each other last night causing a flurry of absences this morning.

Concerned parents walked their children to the school’s front door while others wanted answers from school administrators.

School officials announced today that tonight’s East Columbus at WHS junior varsity football game has been cancelled. Last Thursday’s rain had postponed the game.

One group of parents wanted to see Lee Street closed to prevent a possible drive-by.

This follows the Friday night shooting at Lake Waccamaw where a Chadbourn man was killed outside the Sam’s Pit Stop convenience store, and two others were wounded in a hail of bullets.