Threatening messages from creepy clowns to students on Facebook prompted two Alabama schools to go on lockdown on Thursday morning and police were taking the threat seriously.

Two schools in Escambia County were put on lockdown Thursday morning from the reported threat of “Flomo Klowns,” reports local WKRG.

Parents contacted the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office early Thursday saying their children had been messaged online by a Facebook user named “Flomo Klown.” The user allegedly made a threat against the student’s school, and the message included a gun emoji.

Both Flomaton High School and Escambia County High School were placed on lockdown. Some people claimed they also saw clowns near the schools, but police indicated that was not the case.

Clown sightings have caused alarm and have been reported in other southern states.

As of noon the lockdowns at both schools were lifted and police said their investigation was ongoing.

The “Flomo Klown” Facebook page, which has since been taken down, allegedly wrote “It’s going down tonight” with a smiley face emoji and a gun. It also said, “I kill people for a living.”

The Daily Caller contacted the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office for comment, but they did not respond by press time.

In a press conference this afternoon, Mike Lambert, chief deputy with the sheriff’s office, said the schools were locked down as a “precautionary measure” and “no clowns were ever seen on campus.”

“I can assure you we’re going to the catch the people who did this and when we do ask the district attorney to prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law,” Lambert said.

He said the threats “can’t be taken lightly.”

“The most important thing is the safety of our children,” said Lambert, adding the police will do a full investigation.