A social media threat aimed at Clearview Elementary School in LaGrange ended with a juvenile in custody on Tuesday, according to local police. The young suspect was charged with terroristic threats, and officers say they did not find any weapons on the individual.
Investigators say they do not believe any other Troup County schools are in danger, and the case has been turned over to the department’s Criminal Investigations Division for follow-up.
Officers first learned about the threat on April 14 and opened an investigation that led them to the juvenile, according to FOX 5 Atlanta. The station reports that the threat was made through a social media account and that the juvenile was booked on a charge of terroristic threats. Police also told FOX 5 Atlanta they found no weapons and do not believe there is an active, ongoing threat to Troup County schools.
Police tipline and next steps
The LaGrange Police Department is asking anyone who might know more about the threat to contact investigators directly or send anonymous tips through Tip411, according to the LaGrange Police Department. Residents can text the keyword “LAGRANGE” to 847411 or use the Tip411 app to submit information without revealing their identity.
Broader context in LaGrange
The arrest comes on the heels of a tense stretch in LaGrange, with a deadly shooting and other violent incidents that prompted city leaders to call a press conference earlier this month, as reported by WTVM. Local officials have said those events led to increased patrols and a sharper focus on school safety while detectives track down digital threats like the one involving Clearview Elementary.
What the charge means
Under Georgia law, terroristic threats are criminalized in O.C.G.A. § 16-11-37, with penalties that can vary depending on whether a threat suggests death or serious bodily harm. Juveniles accused of such offenses are typically handled in juvenile court, where cases balance accountability with rehabilitation, according to the statute outlined in the Georgia Code.
