Blount County Sheriff James Lee Berrong announced a 14-year old middle school student was charged after making threats of violence on school grounds by way of a social media post. In addition, another student was cited after failing to report the threat to school officials.
Both students attend Eagleton College and Career Academy (ECCA). The 14-year-old male was arrested and charged with threat of mass violence on school grounds by delinquent. He was taken to the Blount County Juvenile Facility where he will be held pending a hearing in Juvenile Court within 72 hours. Deputies cited the 13-year-old male to juvenile court and where he will answer to the charge of failure to report a threat of mass violence by delinquent.
At approximately 7 a.m., deputies were made aware there was a threat of mass violence on social media by a student who attends Eagleton College and Career Academy. Several deputies immediately responded to ECCA to secure the school and to assemble the students arriving at school in a safe area. During the course of the investigation and with the assistance of school officials, SROs learned the name of the student who created the post and took him into custody at 8:52 a.m.
SROs also confirmed through the parents and guardians that neither student had access to weapons in their homes.
“We take threats of this nature earnestly,” Sheriff Berrong said. “Whether or not students make these threats of mass violence as a joke or with ill intention, we look at their actions the same either way and we will charge them accordingly. We must make these juveniles realize how serious these threats are, even if they never planned on taking action. I ask that any student who hears about possible threats of violence by other students to please report it immediately to a school official or the SRO. Our deputies will follow-up on all information.”
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