Police in a north Georgia city arrested a 14-year-old student Wednesday night for threatening a school shooting just hours after another 14-year-old student killed four people and wounded at least 9 others in another Georgia town.
Gainesville Police said the threats were “circulating over social media” late in the evening, and they launched an investigation.
“Investigators were able to determine that in one case, a 14 year-old student, did cause public alarm by going to social media and referencing threats and actions,” police said. “The juvenile has been taken into custody and charged in the case.”
The juvenile, who was not named, has been charged with terroristic threat and disrupting operation of a public school.
“As law enforcement, our primary goal is to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our students, faculty and staff,” Gainesville Police Chief Jay Parrish said. “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.”
On Wednesday morning, 14-year-old Colt Gray opened fire in Apalachee High School, about 25 miles from Gainesville, and killed two teachers and two classmates, as CrimeOnline reported. He surrendered when school resource officers confront him and will be charged as an adult.<
Police told WSB that the threats in Gainesville weren’t related to the deadly shooting, other than being similar to threats called in before that shooting and coming just hours later.
Police did not name the school or schools threatened. There are three public high schools in Gainesville. Two are operated by Hall County Schools and the third by Gainesville City Schools.
