SCSO: 12-year-old charged after alleged school threat

SULLIVAN COUNTY, Tenn. (WJHL) — A 12-year-old student has been charged with a felony after allegedly making a threat toward a Sullivan County school.

According to the Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO), law enforcement became aware of a social media post on Thursday evening that depicted someone holding a handgun with text containing a threat. The image used in the threat was reportedly found on multiple sites and was at least four years old.

Investigators contacted multiple people late into Thursday night regarding the post.

On Friday morning, a 12-year-old student was questioned and admitted to creating the social media post by adding the text to the old image.

“We take threats of any sort toward our schools very seriously and we will be relentless in our efforts to provide a safe environment for students and staff members at our schools,” Sheriff Jeff Cassidy said in a news release. “This should serve as a notice to everyone that we will not tolerate these types of actions and will respond accordingly by prosecuting these individuals to the fullest extent of the law.”

The student was arrested and charged with Threat of Mass Violence on School Property or at School-Related Activity, which is a Class E felony.

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