A school bus in Franklin County, Georgia, was pulled over after a 20-year-old high school student made a gun claim for the second time, according to the sheriff's office. Deputies found no weapon in the search, and the investigation remains open.
The response unfolded Wednesday, September 23, when parents began flooding 911 with calls after receiving text messages describing a student in the back of the bus saying he had a gun, as reported by WYFF News 4. Dispatchers fielded multiple calls from panicked parents before deputies located and stopped the bus. A weapon-detection K-9 was brought in to search the vehicle and students' belongings, but deputies said no weapon was found. The report described this as the same student's second gun claim and said he was detained and later released to his family.
Why a 20-Year-Old Is Riding a High School Bus
The student's age has raised eyebrows among readers unfamiliar with Georgia's enrollment rules, but state law allows for it. Under Georgia Code § 20-2-150 and State Board Rule 160-5-1-.28, general education students may attend public high school unless they attain age 21 by September 1; students who dropped out for at least one quarter are subject to a separate age-20 threshold, according to the Georgia Center for School Safety. That regulatory detail explains why an adult student can still be riding a district school bus alongside younger classmates.
Franklin County Schools, based in Carnesville, operates school buses in the rural northeast Georgia district.
Possible Legal Consequences
The student's repeated claims raise questions about possible legal consequences.
Separately, Georgia Code § 16-11-37 defines a terroristic threat by its nature and purpose, including a purpose of causing the evacuation of a public-transportation facility. The felony provision applies when a threat suggests the death of the person threatened and carries one to five years in prison, per FindLaw. Notably, Georgia law does not require an actual firearm to be present to secure a conviction on that charge. On top of that, transmitting a false emergency report or public alarm regarding a dangerous weapon is its own distinct offense under Georgia Code § 16-10-28, punishable as a misdemeanor or felony, according to the Digital Library of Georgia.
Apalachee High School Shooting
The Apalachee High School shooting involved a gunman who was then 14.
During the response, deputies used a weapon-detection K-9 to search the bus and students' belongings; no weapon was found.
What Happens Next
It remains unclear whether the student will face criminal charges under the terroristic threat or school bus disruption statutes, or whether the district will pursue disciplinary action. Investigators say the case is still active as they work to determine why the same student made two gun claims.
