A juvenile in Cocke County has been charged after making online threats of mass violence toward an unspecified Tennessee school. "Due to the nature of this threat, the Cocke County Sheriff’s Office has charged the juvenile with ‘Threats of Mass Violence,’" authorities confirmed, and the school district involved has been informed, as per WVLT.
Sheriff CJ Ball said, "This incident is a grave reminder that online actions have severe, real-world consequences, which lead to prosecution." The threat did not specifically target any students, staff, or buildings in Cocke County, but it led to a joint response from local law enforcement, the Tennessee Office of Homeland Security, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The Cocke County Sheriff’s Office has not provided more details about a recent threat or the investigation. Sheriff Ball said, "He went on to thank their law enforcement partners and the school system for their rapid response. He also encourages anyone who learns about threats made against school systems to report them to law enforcement immediately," as reported by WATE. Local and federal agencies are working together, but the matter is mainly under Cocke County’s jurisdiction.
