Three students are locked up in Bradley County after allegedly threatening to shoot up their school, according to the sheriff’s office, and another student was jailed after a social media threat against Meigs County High School.
School officials and law enforcement around the nation are on the alert after the deadly violence that took 17 lives at a south Florida high school this week. The Washington Post reported Friday that copycat threats were rife on Snapchat and other social networks, though most appear to be hoaxes.
It’s not clear whether the three Bradley Central High School students were playing a prank. Sheriff Eric Watson said in a statement that his office “investigates all threats and will not tolerate any threats towards our kids, schools, and this community – even if the threat was said as a joke.”
Bradley sheriff’s office spokesman Lt. James Bradford said multiple witnesses reported the threats to school resource officer Robbie Hair and to Watson. The students were taken to the juvenile center and are awaiting a court appearance.
Bradford said the sheriff’s office had heard rumors Thursday night of a threat on social media but determined they were unfounded.