DHS resumes classes after bomb scare; DPD reports ‘good leads’ in investigation

Classes were back to normal Friday at Demopolis High School after a bomb threat interrupted the first day of school Thursday.

The threat, called in at 11:30 a.m. to the school, triggered an immediate evacuation of students, faculty and staff to Fairhaven Baptist Church. Demopolis Police Chief Rex Flowers said it took about an hour to search the high school and determine there was no bomb.

DPD is leading the investigation with the assistance of the FBI and the District Attorney’s office, Flowers said. Both he and Supt. Tony Willis said there are some very good leads as to who placed the threatening phone call.

Willis said the school used the safety plan that was in place, and the evacuation went perfectly. He gave a “big shout-out” to the faculty and first responders. Every student was accounted for.

The first day of school is always hectic, he continued. “There were a lot of things that could have been a recipe for trouble, but everything went well.”

Most students were picked up at Fairhaven. They reported to their fourth period class Friday morning for about 10 minutes to pick up the belongings that were left in the classroom before reporting to their first period class to begin the day.

“It speaks well to the community that everyone worked in lock-step together,” Willis said. “Communication went very well. It shows how much this community is going to make sure we’re doing whatever to take care of our kids.”