A former E.E. Smith High School student, Travion Maurice Washington, posted a viral video earlier this week in which he waved a gun and made threats directed at a minor connected to the school. After the video surfaced online, the Fayetteville Police Department quickly launched an investigation. Detectives reviewed the footage and other evidence late Wednesday and took Washington into custody Thursday morning. He was charged with communicating threats and is being held at the Cumberland County Detention Center without bond.
The incident prompted school officials to place the campus on a Code Yellow lockdown, a precautionary measure that increases security while allowing classes to continue. Extra police were deployed to ensure student and staff safety. Parents were notified through automated calls from the school system, informing them of the potential threat and the actions being taken.
Some parents chose to keep their children home out of caution. One parent described the fear many families feel when threats arise, saying sending children to school can feel uncertain in today’s climate.
“Sending your kids to school every day is a Russian roulette almost. And that’s really, really sad to say,” parent Hughey told ABC 11 News.
“I was really disturbed. It scared me. Just better safe than sorry. I mean, maybe he wasn’t going to come up there. Maybe he was. But that’s not a risk I want to take with my kid.”
School officials reassured families that students who stayed home would not be penalized. Absences were excused, and teachers offered support to help students make up any missed work.
The E.E. Smith incident comes at a time when school safety remains a national concern. While authorities say swift action helped prevent potential harm in this case, communities across the U.S. continue to focus on prevention, awareness, and safety education.
One tragedy that reshaped the national conversation about school safety was the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, on December 14, 2012. The attack claimed the lives of 20 children and six educators, becoming one of the deadliest school shootings in U.S. history. In its aftermath, organizations like Sandy Hook Promise were established to focus on prevention and early warning signs. Their programs encourage students, teachers, and parents to recognize threatening behavior, report concerns, and intervene before violence occurs.
2012 Sandy Hook Shooting in Connecticut; AP
Through its website and outreach campaigns, Sandy Hook Promise offers practical safety guidance, including recognizing warning signs, reporting threats immediately, and maintaining open communication between schools, families, and law enforcement. One of its most widely shared messages is simple but powerful: “See something, say something.” Programs like Know the Signs teach students how to safely report threats, bullying, or concerning behavior before it escalates.
According to research tracking gun incidents on school property, the U.S. has experienced more than 420 reported school shooting since the 1999 Columbine attack. One national tracker recorded over 100 incidents involving firearms on K-12 school grounds in 2025 alone. Even when incidents do not result in injuries, the presence of threats or weapons can cause widespread fear among students, families, and educators.
In response, schools nationwide have strengthened safety protocols, often including school resource officers, lockdown drills, threat assessment teams, surveillance systems, and partnerships with local police departments. Rapid communication systems, like automated calls and alerts, allow schools to inform families quickly when a potential threat arises.
The Laurinburg, NC native, was also a graduate of EE Smith High School; Photo Credit: Facebook
In Fayetteville, officials say the fast coordination between the school district and the Fayetteville Police Department was critical. Investigators verified the threat, located the suspect, and made an arrest before any violence could occur. Washington is currently being held without bond at the Cumberland County Detention Center.
Incidents like this highlight that early reporting, strong safety measures, and rapid law enforcement response can make a crucial difference. While threats can be alarming, authorities emphasize that community awareness and swift action are often key in preventing tragedies before they happen.
