Two Halls students arrested, accused of making threats of mass violence

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — The Knox County Sheriff’s Office that two Halls High School students have been charged with making threats of mass violence.

KCSO released that the first arrest had been made just before 1 p.m. KCSO did not share the nature of the threat or when it was reported. According to KCSO, the student is a 14-year-old, and due to their age, no other information or details will be released.

Just before 8 p.m., KCSO announced that a second Halls High School Student, an 18-year-old identified as Charles McCarter, was arrested and charged with making threats of mass violence Friday afternoon. He was taken to the Roger D. Wilson Detention Facility.

According to KCSO, additional threats are being investigated. Several other agencies and resources helped with the investigation into those threats, including the Knox County Sheriff’s Hazardous Device Unit, Multiple K-9 Teams, the Tennessee Highway Patrol, Tennessee Homeland Security, the Knoxville Police Department, and the Knox County Schools Security Division, and Dr. Jon Rysewyk KCS Superintendent.

“I can’t stress enough as I have said many times before, WE WILL TAKE EVERY THREAT AGAINST OUR SCHOOLS SERIOUSLY.  There WILL be consequences for this type of behavior and as long as I am the Sheriff it will not be tolerated in Knox County.

I want to thank everyone who responded so quickly. We are grateful for our partnership with the Knox County School Security Division, The Knoxville Police Department, and The Tennessee Highway Patrol. I commend our Patrol Officers assigned to our schools and our Juvenile and Major Crimes Units for their tireless efforts in keeping our schools safe. We appreciate the cooperation of the Halls faculty and the parents. Please talk to your kids and let them know who their friends are and what they are doing online. If you need help, reach out!”

Sheriff Tom Spangler

EDITOR’S NOTE: This story has been updated with new information from the Knox County Sheriff’s Office.

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