Dozens of schools across the country have received threats of shootings or bombings since the deadly September 4 shootin at a high school in Georgia.
Many of the threats are likely hoaxes, but law enforcement is taking no chances. Departments across the country are urging parents to pay close attention to their children’s social media habits and to talk with their children about these threats.
“Parents, I implore you to explain the consequences and repercussions this can cause for your child or their friends,” Bleckley County, Georgia, Sheriff Daniel Cape wrote in a Facebook post after his department was involved in an arrest in a neighboring county.”Students, I also implore you to do better, be better, and not let a prank or anger cost you your freedom and ability to succeed later in life.”
Following are just a few of the recent threats and arrests made:
Alabama
According to WVTM, Alabama authorities arrested a 13-year-old girl on Saturday in connection with a threat against a middle school in Tuscaloosa and investigating other threats in the city.
On Friday, Birmingham Police arrested a 16-year-old for a terroristic threat against a high school in Jefferson County, Walker County deputies arrested a juvenile for “recent school threats,” and Pickens County deputies arrested a juvenile for threats in that county.
On Thursday, an Oneonta High School student was banned from campus for making a “potentially threatening statement.” A day earlier, 2 Cullman County students were charged with making a school threat, and on Tuesday, a 14-year-old was charged with making threats against two Birmingham schools.
On Monday, students at four high schools were sent home early because of threats and increased security was stationed at schools in Cullman.
Florida
WPTV reported that Florida authorities investigated threats at seven separate schools over one 48-hour period this week, resulting in at least two arrests — one of whom was an 11-year-old. A 15-year-old student was arrested after threat, WOFL reported.
Schools in Escambia County closed early on Friday, the Pensacola News Journal said, and a 13-year-old middle school student was arrested on Thursday after officials found a loaded handgun in his backpack.
Threats were reported all over the state, from the southern tip up both coasts and into the panhandle.
California
The San Juan Unified School Distrct said on Friday that four of its schools were named in threats posted to social media and told parents in a letter that it was monitoring the situation and working with law enforcement but that so far there was no “actionable threat,” KCRA reported.
On Wednesday, the Roseville Police Department arrested a 13-year-old boy for a threat against a middle school, and the Newman Police Department said it had arrested a juvenile for threats against several schools in Stanislaus County. .
Other threats have named schools in El Dorado County, Rocklin, and Placerville. Schools in Modesto and Tracy High Schools received bomb threats.
Georgia
Two teachers and two students were shot and killed at Apalachee High School in Winder on September 4, as CrimeOnline has reported. Colt Gray, 14, has ben charged with those murders, and his father is also charged for giving him the AR-15 he used as a Christmas present after investigators questioned them both about alleged threats made earlier this year.
In the wake of the shooting, more than 30 teen arrests have been made for threats against schools in north Georgia, according to WXIA, including 24 in the immediate 48 hours after the Winder shooting.
New Jersey
Shore News Network reported that a juvenile had been arrested for making multiple threats against schools in Hackensack on Friday.
Texas
Three people, two of them students, were arrested in Arlington on Thursday and Friday for threats against schools, the Fort Worth Star Telegram reported.
Massachusetts
A teenager was charged with making a threat earlier this week to target a high school football game on Friday, WBTS said.
Connecticut
The Naugatuck Police Department said it was investigating a slew of threats made against schools within its jurisdiction, according to the Newport Dispatch.
Arizona
Yuma Police said it was investigating multiple threats circulating in the area, KYMA reported.
Nebraska
Threats were made Friday against the Neligh Oakdale Public School in Neligh, the Norfolk Daily News said.
Pennsylvania
A juvenile was arrested Friday in Savannah, Georgia, for a threat against schools in Lackawanna County, Tioga Publishing reported.
Tennessee
A teenager in Elizabethton was arrested Friday for threatening a mass shooting at Happy Valley High School, WJHL said.
Virginia
St. John the Apostle Catholic School in Virginia Beach cancelled classes Thursday and Friday because of threats, WAVY reported.
South Dakota
A high school in Spearfish was evacuated after a bomb threat was found in a bathroom Friday night, the Black Hills Pioneer said.
Kentucky
WLEX reported that two schools in Scott County were evacuated on Friday because of bomb threats, while threats were also received in Adair, Bourbon, Jackson, Grant, and Anderson Counties.
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[Featured image: A memorial is seen at Apalachee High School after the September 4 school shooting, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in Winder, Ga. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)]
