A teacher at Rockdale Independent School District is now facing serious felony charges after making threats against the school's principals, allegation that came to light last week, KXAN reports. The suspect, identified as Michael Smith, a 40-year-old math teacher at Rockdale High School, allegedly posted a threat on the school's website, prompting an immediate investigation by local authorities and federal agencies.
According to the Milam County Sheriff’s Office, the investigation was triggered Thursday night after an anonymous user posted a menacing message online, the specific threat stating, “I’ve got a gun in my bag and I’m going to shoot the principals,” was found on a webpage associated with Rockdale High School. The IP address linked to the threat was reportedly traced back to Smith, who found himself at the center of a multi-agency investigation involving the FBI and the Secret Service. Milam County Sheriff Mike Clore acknowledged the assistance from federal agencies in tracking down the digital footprint of the threat, a process which swiftly led to the procurement of related warrants, KBTX notes.
The affidavit, as per the sheriff’s office release, illustrates that Smith was taken in for questioning on the school’s campus where he purportedly confessed to sending the threatening message. These developments culminated in Smith's arrest and his subsequent charge for making a terroristic threat, a third-degree felony, along with making a false report, which accounts as a state jail felony. Details on legal representation for Smith weren't immediately available, but coverage is expected to be updated as the situation progresses.
Rockdale ISD has been actively cooperating with law enforcement throughout this ordeal, keen on ensuring the safety of the school's staff and students, according to statements from the sheriff's office. Sheriff Clore expressed gratitude to the district for promptly alerting the authorities about the threat, reflecting on the swiftness with which the district's administration acted in concert with law enforcement to confront the peril that had, for a moment, cast a shadow over the Rockdale High School community.
