Two Hall County teenagers have been arrested in connection with threats of violence made against multiple Hall County schools. The threats were determined to be hoaxes, but the two perpetrators were charged with terroristic threats, the Hall County Sheriff’s Office says in a news release.
One of the suspects is 13 years old, and the other is 17.
Dozens of reports of online threats
On September 5, the day after the school shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder, authorities authorities say they received dozens of reports of the threats via social media.
The sheriff’s office says it fielded dozens of reports from concerned citizens about online posts threatening violence against multiple schools in the Hall County School District.
“Even though the threats were determined to be hoaxes, investigators were able to locate two suspects responsible for creating and sharing threats to online platforms,” says Hall County Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer B.J. Williams.
According to Williams, one of the threats involved a student at Cherokee Bluff High School and another involved student at Johnson High School and South Hall Middle School.
Thursday night, September 5, detectives arrested Jaymon Alan Justice at his home in Flowery Branch in connection to the Cherokee Bluff threat. They charged the 17-year-old as an adult with terroristic threats and acts and disruption or interference with the operation of public schools. Both are misdemeanors.
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, says Williams.
At last check, Justice remains in the Hall County Jail with a bond of $2,600.
‘Disheartening’ and ‘infuriating’
The 13-year-old suspect is accused of sharing an Instagram message indicating he would perform an act of violence at Johnson High School and South Hall Middle School, says Williams. Authorities took him into custody without incident at his residence and transported him to the Regional Youth Detention Center (RYDC) in Gainesville.
The teen faces juvenile complaints of terroristic threats and acts and disruption or interference with the operation of public schools. His name is being withheld due to his age.
“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,” says Hall County Sheriff Gerald Couch. “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.”
Other area arrests
These are the latest in a series of arrests made since the Apalachee shooting on September 4.
Gainesville police arrested a 14-year-old who allegedly threatened city schools. He was taken to RYDC after his arrest.
In Athens, a 12-year-old boy was taken into custody after allegedly posting pictures of guns along with Clarke County school’s names on social media.
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