Student taken into custody after alleged backpack bomb claim at West Columbus High School in North Carolina

What happened at the school

A student is facing juvenile charges after an incident at West Columbus High School in Columbus County, North Carolina, where the student allegedly told classmates there was a bomb in a backpack. The statement was reported to law enforcement and prompted an immediate response at the school on Friday, March 6, 2026.

Authorities said a school resource officer went to the classroom and removed the student from the building. Law enforcement reported that the situation was secured quickly and that a search did not uncover an explosive device.

Charges and juvenile court process

Officials said a juvenile petition is being filed alleging communicating a threat of mass violence on educational property, along with a disorderly conduct allegation. A secured custody order was issued and the student was taken to a juvenile detention facility.

Under North Carolina law, “communicating a threat of mass violence on educational property” is a felony offense that covers threats made by any means of communication about an act of mass violence at a school or school-sponsored activity. “Disorderly conduct” is a separate criminal offense generally applied to conduct that intentionally causes a public disturbance.

• The student’s identity was not released because the case is in the juvenile system.
• Investigators reported the student told authorities the remark was intended as a joke.
• Officials treated the incident as a safety threat due to the nature of the statement and broader concerns tied to school threats in the region.

Context: earlier threat response at West Columbus School

The March 6 incident followed a separate bomb-threat response earlier in the same week within the West Columbus school community. On Tuesday, March 3, 2026, law enforcement searched West Columbus School after receiving notice of an anonymous online tip that alleged a bomb threat scheduled for later that morning. Authorities said the tip included limited specifics.

Deputies searched the campus with assistance from outside agencies and explosive-detection K9 units. After the search, the school was declared safe, and the district operated on a two-hour delay with classes beginning at 10 a.m.

Law enforcement agencies have emphasized that any threat involving schools will be treated as a serious safety matter, regardless of intent, because of the potential risk to students and staff and the disruption such statements can cause.

What is confirmed and what remains unknown

Authorities have confirmed that no explosive device was found in the March 6 West Columbus High School incident and that the student was taken into custody under juvenile procedures. Officials have not released additional details about what prompted the statement, whether any specific target was named, or whether the March 6 incident is connected to the earlier March 3 tip that triggered a separate search at West Columbus School.

The juvenile petition process will determine how the case proceeds in court and what conditions, if any, are imposed while the matter remains pending.