Police grapple with threats against schools after Georgia shooting tragedy

In nan aftermath of nan Apalachee High School shooting successful Georgia, constabulary crossed nan authorities and further afield person dealt pinch a drawstring of copycat schoolhouse shooting threats.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation said Thursday, 1 time aft nan tragedy, that officers had responded to respective incidents of threats astatine different schools.

"This is simply a very difficult clip for students & parents and galore are afraid. You’ve apt seen reports of incidents of different students making threats coming astatine schools astir GA," nan GBI said connected X.

"In each of these incidents, constabulary took charges and made arrests arsenic we return each matter seriously,” nan section wrote.

In Gainesville, Georgia, a 14-year-old was arrested, accused of “going to societal media and referencing threats and actions,” police said. The unidentified juvenile was taken into custody and is being held connected charges of terroristic threat and disrupting cognition of a nationalist school. 

This came aft 14-year-old fishy Colt Gray was arrested Wednesday aft opening occurrence astatine Apalachee High School successful Winder, sidesplitting 2 teachers and 2 students, and injuring 9 others. Police announced Thursday evening that nan suspect’s begetter was besides arrested on charges including involuntary manslaughter.

"This is simply a clip for america a authorities to travel together & stay vigilant. Students must beryllium supported and encouraged to interaction a personnel of schoolhouse module pinch each concerns of suspicious activity," nan GBI said connected X.

Threats of unit against schools person go commonplace and nan section did not opportunity whether nan shooting threats were linked to nan Apalachee shooting this week.

Elsewhere, successful Sioux County, Iowa, aggregate schools went connected lockdown Thursday aft "a threat was discovered astatine Sioux Center High School."

The threat caused each Sioux Center School District buildings to spell connected lockdown, and adjacent communities of Hull, Orange City, Hawarden and Rock Valley besides locked down arsenic a precaution. Sioux Center Community School District Superintendent Gary McEldowney said successful a statement: "A thorough investigation took spot and we are assured that nan threat has been resolved."

In Virginia, Pulaski County Public Schools announced Thursday evening that each schools and offices will beryllium closed Friday aft rule enforcement notified nan territory that “multiple threats person been made to harm nan PCPS schoolhouse section astatine immoderate constituent tomorrow.”

Those threats are being investigated, and nan closure was “for nan information of our children until we person much details.” 

Colt Gray appeared successful tribunal Friday morning wherever he was charged arsenic an big pinch 4 counts of murder. His father, Colin Gray, appeared aft him connected charges of involuntary manslaughter and 2nd grade murder.