Knoxville Police announce more arrests after barrage of reported school threats

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — The Knoxville Police Department announced Wednesday that at least six more children have been arrested in connection to a spate of reported school threats in Knox County .

As of 3 p.m., KPD officers had arrested at least six students on Wednesday for making threats of mass violence.

Two boys were charged for making separate threats to Holston Middle School. Two other boys were charged with threats directed at Northwest Middle School.

A 14-year-old girl was also charged for making a threat directed at Richard Yoakley School, while a 14-year-old boy was arrested for making threats connected to Fulton High School.

A KPD spokesperson said Wednesday that several additional investigations into school-related threats are ongoing. On Tuesday, KPD revealed that an 11-year-old student was arrested in connection to a threat to Vine Middle School.

“We understand the stress that our community is feeling and will have zero tolerance for any threats of violence directed at our schools, students or staff,” Chief Paul Noel said. “We have and will continue to treat these threats with the intense seriousness they deserve. We will also charge any individuals who make threats towards our schools to the fullest extent possible.”

Knoxville police said that KPD officers will have an added presence at Knoxville schools in response to the rash of school-related threats, with increased visibility at schools particularly when students and staff are arriving for the day and as they are leaving school grounds. Investigations Bureau detectives have also been designated to solely evaluate, respond to, and investigate school threats.

The Knox County Sheriff’s Office has also made multiple arrests in connection to the spate of reported threats.

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