A 12-year-old student at Antioch Middle School in Nashville has been taken into police custody following a serious accusation of threatening a teacher, as reported by WSMV. The alleged threat referenced obtaining a gun, instigating immediate concern and action by school authorities and law enforcement. The middle schooler was arrested after the incident, which occurred on Tuesday.

Upon intervention by a school resource officer, the seventh grader claimed he was merely joking, as detailed by WKRN. Authorities report that the student admitted not having access to a gun, and a subsequent search of his backpack did not uncover any weapon. Nonetheless, the MNPD has confirmed the 12-year-old has previously talked about guns and expressed interest in joining gangs.

This arrest comes in the wake of a deadly shooting that occurred at Antioch High School just three weeks ago. Since then, a concerning number of students, at least a dozen, have been apprehended for making similar menaces against school safety, as per WKRN.