CROSSVILLE, Tenn. — A juvenile has been charged after making a bomb threat on Facebook Thursday evening towards Cumberland County Schools, according to the Cumberland County Sheriff's Office.
The 16-year-old juvenile is facing multiple charges, including threats of mass violence, filing a false report and criminal impersonation.
The juvenile made the initial threat for Friday on the school district's Facebook using a fake profile with a stolen photograph of an uninvolved student, deputies said. After finding the threatening post, the Crossville/Cumberland County Threat Response Task Force, assisted by the Tennessee Office of Homeland Security, immediately took action to address the potential danger and launched an investigation.
The Task Force's investigation led them to a juvenile suspect in Herndon, Virginia, with past connections to the Cumberland County School System, CCSO said.
Working with Fairfax County law enforcement authorities, officers visited the juvenile's home and determined there was no credible threat at the location. Despite the claim that the threat was a joke, the severity of the incident prompted serious legal consequences, according to officials.
Cumberland County Schools and local law enforcement agencies emphasized that the safety and well-being of students and staff are of the highest concern.
"Any threat to our schools is taken extremely seriously and will be met with the appropriate response to protect our community," Cumberland County Schools said. "The swift action of the involved agencies underscores the seriousness of such actions and the commitment to maintaining a safe educational environment."