ATLANTA — Editor's note: This story is no longer being updated. An updated list of arrests and charges can be found online here.
At least 20 students are facing charges after making school threats this week across north Georgia, according to authorities.
11Alive has received reports from numerous metro Atlanta police departments, sheriff's offices and school districts investigating school threats over the last two days. Investigators said they are pursuing each one seriously-- deeming several "threats" as hoaxes.
At least seven arrests have been made across Georgia in connection with online and social media school threats, including a 12-year-old in Athens-Clarke County, a 17-year-old in Hall County, a 13-year-old in Hall County, a 15-year-old in Forsyth County, a 14-year-old in Forsyth County, and two juvenile students in Gwinnett County.
The threats come after the Apalachee High School shooting on Wednesday. Four people died in that incident and others were injured.
These are just a few of more than a dozen of reports of school threats we've received:
Athens-Clarke County
In Athens-Clarke County, the police department said on Thursday, a 12-year-old was arrested and charged with making terroristic threats. Investigators said the 12-year-old posted threats on social media, including images of guns with the names of schools in the county. He was taken into custody by the Department of Juvenile Justice.
Bartow County
On Friday morning, the Cartersville Police Department said Cartersville Middle School received an anonymous call at 9:50 a.m. about an unknown man on his way with a gun.
"As the Cartersville Police Department takes all threats seriously, especially those relating to the safety of our children, an investigation was launched, and a soft lockdown of all schools in the district was ordered," the police department said in a statement.
After an extensive search of the school, investigators determined that there was no threat and deemed it a hoax. The soft lockdown at Cartersville Middle School has been lifted.
"At this time, there is no evidence to corroborate that the threat was anything more than a hoax. The investigation is ongoing, and anyone with information is asked to contact the
Cartersville Police Department at 770-382-2526," police added.
Forsyth County
In Forsyth County, the sheriff's office said a 15-year-old student was arrested after posting an online school threat.
"When asked about the threat, the student admitted to the post and stated it was a joke and he thought it was funny. The student was arrested and charged with Terroristic Threats," the sheriff's office added in a social media post.
On Thursday, a 14-year-old boy from Desana Middle School was also taken into custody and charged with terroristic threats and disruption of schools.
"The child did not have a gun nor did he have access to one, but the comments he made caused fear and disruption at the school," the sheriff's office added.
Both teens were taken to the Regional Youth Detention Center in Gainesville.
Franklin County
Classes in Franklin County were canceled for Friday after the school systems reported threats being made.
According to a Facebook post, the Franklin County School System received threats toward the district on Thursday evening. The district decided to close all schools on Friday for staff and students.
"We are working closely with local law enforcement and the GBI regarding this situation," the district said.
Fulton County
Roswell Police said it arrested a 14-year-old student in connection with online threats made against Elkins Pointe Middle School. The police department said on Friday evening, it received multiple reports about an online threat against the school posted from an anonymous Instagram account.
The Police department said it worked through the night and traced it to a home in Roswell. The student, police said, admitted to posting the treat as a "joke."
The teen was charged with terroristic threats and acts and domestic terrorism. The student was taken to the Metro Regional Youth Detention Center.
Gordon County
The Gordon County Sheriff's Office stated that they arrested a 15-year-old boy in connection to a recent threat against a school in the county.
According to the sheriff's office, the teen boy was allegedly connected to a "threatening message."
The sheriff's office did not say which school was possibly targeted in the threat.
Authorities added that the teen faces charges for disruption of public schools and may file additional charges. They also added that further arrests are possible.
Gwinnett County
In Gwinnett County, the police department said it had investigated nearly 300 social media threats this week. Investigators are working to identify the people who are making the threats.
This week, authorities said two juvenile students in Gwinnett County were making school threats: one student at Meadow Creek High and another student at Archer High.
At a news conference on Friday, Gwinnett County Schools Police Chief Tony Lockhart said at Archer High School, a student texted her boyfriend that there was an "active shooter" inside the school. Authorities responded immediately and determined that the report was false. The student is being charged with terroristic threats, Lockhart added.
Then, at Meadow Creek High, Lockhart said another student is facing charges after posting photos of guns on social media and making threats about harming students.
Hall County
A 13-year-old middle school student was arrested after the Hall County Sheriff's Office said he made threats in front of his classmates at World Language Arts Academy Middle School.
Deputies said the teen announced he "was going to be the next school shooter” in class around 10:30 a.m. He also claimed that he had a "mag" in his backpack. School administrators removed the student from class, where he was searched, but no weapons were found.
He was arrested and charged with felony terroristic threats and disruption of public school. His parents were notified, and he was booked into the Regional Youth Detention Center (RYDC) in Gainesville.
Hall County
In Hall County, the sheriff's office said a 17-year-old and a 13-year-old were arrested for social media threats made against three schools on Thursday:
- Cherokee Buff High School
- Johnson High School
- South Hall Middle School
The sheriff's office said they made threatening online posts that turned out to be hoaxes. The 17-year-old was arrested Thursday night at his home and is expected to be tried as an adult on charges of terroristic threats and acts and disruption or interference with the operation of public schools, both misdemeanor offenses.
"Investigators determined Justice had edited a social media post referencing a threat at another school outside of Hall County and tagged the location of Cherokee Bluff High School. He then shared the post to Snapchat. At last check, Justice remains in the Hall County Jail with a bond of $2,600," the sheriff's office added in a news release.
The 13-year-old was taken into custody and is expected to be charged as a juvenile. He was taken to the Regional Youth Detention Center in Gainesville and faces juvenile complaints of terroristic threats and acts and disruption or interference with the operation of public schools.
According to the sheriff's investigation, the 13-year-old shared an Instagram message "indicating he would perform an act of violence at Johnson High School and South Hall Middle School."
“It is disheartening that anyone would threaten a school, but beyond that, it is infuriating that these threats - hoax or not - come on the heels of the horrific attack that happened this week at Apalachee High School,” Sheriff Gerald Couch said. “I commend our community members for staying vigilant and alerting law enforcement when they see something suspicious. I assure everyone that we will do everything we can to find those responsible for spreading unnecessary fear, especially in our schools.”
This is a developing story. Check back often for new information.
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