Students at an eastern North Carolina high school received a threat that something violent would take place at the school.

Sheriff Ronnie Ingram said the Lenoir County Sheriff's Office was alerted Thursday afternoon ago about the threat and several deputies were sent to provide security and to investigate the information.

Ingram said, “The threat has been viewed by detectives and is a 'generic' message. It is not specific to North Lenoir. We have also been informed that this same message, or one similar to it, has been sent to other schools, in other counties.”

At this time, he said investigators have no information that creates a definite or specific threat to North Lenoir or any other school in the county.

“The safety of our children is always a priority for both Lenoir County Public Schools and the Lenoir County Sheriff's Office. Deputies and Detectives will be present to investigate the origin of this threat and provide security for this incident,” Ingram added.