The Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, April 21, 2000

Texas: Terrorism rumors stir in Lamesa School officials increase security as precaution
John Wise

Lamesa police and school officials are investigating rumors that a high school student there made a terroristic threat, authorities confirmed Thursday.

Few details were available, and schools Supt. Ken McCraw said officials were spending much of their time separating fact from fiction.

"We're right in the middle of it right now," McCraw said. "We know there are a lot of rumors out there."

Allegations surfaced after school Wednesday that a student, whose name is protected from disclosure under state privacy laws, made a terroristic threat, the superintendent said. The reason for the alleged threat is unknown.

Levelland police Chief Richard Garcia said a detective is working on the case, but most leads were turning out to be nothing.

"I don't know where we are in this," Garcia said Thursday afternoon. "There's a lot of rumor and innuendo."

As a precaution, security was increased at the schools Thursday, McCraw said.

"We did increase our security today simply to assure folks that it was indeed safe" to be in school, McCraw said.

Thursday was the one-year anniversary of the shooting rampage at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colo., that left 12 students and one teacher dead.

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