GCSO responds to written bomb threat at Wewahitchka Elementary School
The Gulf County Sheriff’s Office was notified of a written bomb threat at Wewahitchka Elementary School (WES) today at approximately 11:00 a.m. CST. Students and faculty were evacuated from the campus and ultimately dismissed early with Wewahitchka High School students, due to transportation challenges.
Once the campus was secured a search was conducted. Deputies were assisted by the Bay County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Unit. No explosive devices were located, and the school is deemed safe. Classes will continue as scheduled tomorrow.
No suspects have been identified in the case; however, it is believed the threat was made by a student. Investigators will continue to work with the School Resource Deputy and school administration to identify a suspect. Anyone with information may contact the Gulf County Sheriff’s Office at (850)227-1115 or (850)639-5717. Anyone that wishes to remain anonymous may contact Crime Stoppers at (850)785-TIPS, submit a tip online at p3tips.com, or through the Gulf County Sheriff’s Office smartphone app.
This report will be updated as more information becomes available.
Meet the Editor
Wendy Weitzel, The Star’s digital editor, joined the news outlet in August 2021, as a reporter covering primarily Gulf County.
Prior to then, she interned for Oklahoma-based news wire service Gaylord News and for Oklahoma City-based online newspaper NonDoc.com during her four years at the University of Oklahoma, from which she graduated in May with degrees in online journalism and political science.
While at OU, Weitzel was selected as Carnegie-Knight News21 Investigative Fellow among 30 top journalism students from around the country. She also was senior editor managing a 12-person newsroom in coordination with Oklahoma Watch, a non-profit news organization in eastern Oklahoma.