Brantley County joined the list of school systems in Georgia to receive threats of a possible shooting.
Personnel from the Brantley County Sheriff’s Office joined Brantley County School Resource Officers to provide additional security for schools held under lockdown.
The Board of Education released a statement Friday morning, September 6.
“School administrators and law enforcement became aware of a message on a Snapchat group that involved threats of a school shooting at the high school. Our administrators and law enforcement worked diligently during the night and are continuing to investigate this morning to discover from where the message originated.
“Authorities and administrators from other school systems in Georgia were informed of a similar message circulating on social media last night (Thursday, September 5) involving threats for their communities as well. Students in Brantley immediately began informing our local school administrators, and we have been able to work with local and state officials to take proactive steps and protective measures this morning.
“The safety of our children will always be our top priority at all schools, and there will be additional security at BCHS today (Friday). I do want to take this opportunity to commend our students who took screenshots of the message and got the message to an adult.
“‘See something, say something’ is important and crucial in today’s world, and we are proud of these students for making school officials and law enforcement aware of the messages as soon as they saw them.”
Threats have circulated on social media since the Wednesday, September 4 shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder, Ga. Colt Gray, a 14year-old freshman at the school, killed two students and two teachers, and wounded nine others before being apprehended by an armed SRO.
Ware County Schools received warnings from students about the threatening post leading to increased security on its school campuses Monday, September 9.
Copy cat threats have surfaced in schools throughout the state. WALB News in Albany reported three south Georgia threats had resulted in arrests.
A 13-year-old was arrested Thursday, September 5 by the GBI in connection with online shooting threats made at Brooks County Middle School.
A 17-year-old was arrested Friday, September 6 in Crisp County for making terroristic threats on a text app.
An 11-year-old was arrested in Valdosta for posting terroristic threats via social media.
