Hall County School System spokesman Gordon Higgins said the threats were issued via Instagram, a social media instant messaging system.
Higgins said one student received the message overnight.
"That student brought the message to the attention of Principal Dr. Mark Coleman who immediately called law enforcement and they came on the scene around 8 o'clock to begin their investigation," said Higgins.
Higgins said the school was never placed on lockdown per the recommendation of sheriff's investigators. Still, word about the threat began to spread as students began to text one another and parents about law enforcement presence on campus.
"It [the texting] caused quite a commotion here of parents coming to check children out," said Higgins. "We fully understand parents and their concern for their children's safety and respect their desires to have their children checked out."
Higgins said, however, that students were safe. He said law enforcement will remain at Flowery Branch High School, trying to find those responsible for sending the message.
Higgins did not specify what type of threat was issued in the message.
At one point an e-mail prayer chain issued a message, saying that a shooting had occurred at the school. Hall County Sheriff's Sgt. Kiley Sargent said there was never a threat of a shooting or a report of a gunman at the school.
The Hall County School System has offered a $1,000 reward for information that leads to the person or persons responsible for sending the threatening message.
Parents line up at Flowery Branch High School to pick up their children in light of an Instagram threat
http://accesswdun.com/article/2013/1/257680