GAINESVILLE, Ga. — A 14-year-old in Gainesville is under arrest and facing charges relating to making school threats hours after a deadly mass shooting at Apalachee High School in Georgia.
Officers said they were made aware of possible threats circulating on social media late Wednesday night.
Police add that since the tragedy at Apalachee High in Barrow County, where four people died and nine others were hospitalized, "many jurisdictions have been dealing with hoax or false information being passed around.
Currently, the Gainesville teen, who has not been named, is being held on terroristic threat and disrupting operation of a public school charges.
Gainesville Police Chief Jay Parrish released the following statement:
“As law enforcement, our primary goal is to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our students, faculty and staff. Our hearts are broken surrounding the heinous attack at Apalachee High School in our neighboring community. Hoax or not, we will actively investigate every threat or possible action to any school or student. Likewise, you should expect the full force of the Gainesville Police Department and our law enforcement partners to take necessary actions to protect our schools.”
More on shooting at Apalachee High School
A tragic shooting happened Sept. 4, at Apalachee High School in Barrow County, resulting in the deaths of four individuals and the hospitalization of nine others. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) reported that the suspect, 14-year-old Colt Gray, a student at the school, has been taken into custody and is facing murder charges.
Authorities are currently investigating how Gray obtained the automatic rifle used in the incident and managed to bring it into the school.
The victims were identified as two teachers, Richard Aspinwall, 39, and Cristina Irimie, 53, and two students, Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo, both 14 years old.
Governor Brian Kemp and President Joe Biden, among others, have expressed their condolences and pledged support. In response to the tragedy, the Barrow County School District canceled classes and offered crisis counseling to affected students and staff.
