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High school athlete targeted with racial slurs

Parents of a Canon-McMillan student talked to Channel 11 on Wednesday about racially charged threats directed toward their son.

Channel 11 has confirmed that police are investigating claims a group of students made threats against their son on social media.

"'Do you want to be lynched? Do you want lynches?' And it just kept going with the lynching comments," parent Malinda Lewis said. "One individual referred to him as a dumb 'N' word."

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"This isn't a joke, you're talking about lynching my son," said D'Monn Lewis, the victim's father.

He says a group of high school seniors who attend Canon-McMillan High School with their 15-year-old son sent him those messages on Snapchat.

"My main concern is I just want him to be safe, of course, and any kid of color or any kid, for that matter," D'Monn Lewis said. He told Channel 11 it started when his son sent a message to the guys on Snapchat, telling them to back off from giving his girlfriend problems.

That's when, they say, their son started getting the messages.

ONLY ON 11--- Racial slurs & violent threats...That's what a high school athlete says was sent to him via Snapchat. The family officially pressed charges tonight --- http://bit.ly/2DJ5MPW

Posted by Michele Newell WPXI on Wednesday, January 17, 2018

"It makes me scared because that's the kind of hate that isn't all talk, that's the kind of hate that's going to hurt my child," Malinda Lewis said.

They told Channel 11 they reported it to school officials.

The superintendent told Channel 11 an internal investigation was conducted and handed over to police, adding that while safety is key for all students in the district, this incident wasn't related to a school function.