Three people, including two minors, have been arrested in connection with an alleged plot to shoot up Cherokee High School, after federal agents flagged threatening social media posts that prompted an investigation. Authorities say the arrests happened in stages across Georgia and California, with the final suspect still awaiting transport back to Cherokee County.
Police have arrested three people in connection with an alleged conspiracy to carry out a shooting at Cherokee High School, according to Atlanta News First. The investigation began after the FBI flagged threatening social media posts to Cherokee County School District police, who contacted Canton police on Oct. 19, setting off a cascade of arrests over the following days. As WSB-TV reports, Canton police said the FBI had identified three people allegedly involved in the conspiracy to shoot at the high school.
A String of Arrests Across Two States
The first arrest came Oct. 20, when an unidentified juvenile from Canton was taken into custody on charges of conspiracy to commit murder and disruption of a public school, per the same account from Atlanta News First. Three days later, on Oct. 23, police arrested 17-year-old Shane Keith Taylor in Metter, Georgia, and charged him with conspiracy to commit murder. He was taken to the Cherokee County Adult Detention Center, the station's report notes.
The third suspect, 21-year-old Michael Brandon Terry of Chatsworth, California, was arrested in California by the FBI and the Los Angeles Police Department. Terry is charged with conspiracy to commit murder and is awaiting transport to Cherokee County, according to the same outlet. It remains unclear whether that transfer has been completed.
Guns, Ammunition and Devices Seized
During the course of the investigation, officers seized multiple firearms, ammunition and electronic devices, according to Fox 5 Atlanta. The Cherokee County School District has since implemented heightened security protocols, stationing additional police officers directly on the Cherokee High School campus, the station reported.
Canton Police Chief Marty Ferrell said student and school-staff safety is a top priority and that threats are taken seriously, according to WSB-TV. Ferrell also said he appreciated law enforcement partners' quick action and detectives' dedication in identifying and arresting the suspects. Canton police urged parents to teach their children about the seriousness of making threats, the station said.
No Known Ongoing Threat, Authorities Say
Authorities said there is no known ongoing threat to Cherokee High School or any other Cherokee County school, Atlanta News First reported, though the investigation remains active. The case echoes a similar episode earlier this month in Southern California, where two teenage girls were arrested on suspicion of plotting a mass shooting at a Riverside County high school and were found with a list of intended targets, according to the Los Angeles Times.
No further details on charging documents, bond status or defense statements have been made public. Cherokee County officials have not said whether additional arrests are expected as the investigation continues.
