ROANE COUNTY, Tenn. — One student was taken into custody and four were charged after making verbal threats to their schools, according to Russell Johnson, the District Attorney General for Roane, Loudon, Morgan and Meigs counties.
On Wednesday, two students were charged after making threats toward their school.
A student at Wartburg Elementary School was charged for making verbal statements in the classroom. A Roane County High School student was charged with making verbal threats toward the high school. The Roane County Sheriff's Office is investigating those incidents.
The high school student was detained at the Knox County Juvenile Detention Center and will likely stay in custody until a hearing is held, Johnson said. According to Johnson, the hearing is expected to be scheduled for Sept. 30.
On Thursday, two students from Cherokee Middle School were charged. One of the students verbally threatened the school, while the second student was arrested for making a false report earlier in the week. RCSO is investigating that incident.
According to Johnson, many counties are still receiving and investigating threats. He also said Morgan, Loudon and Roane authorities have seen "copycat" threats, mostly from out of state. Meigs County has yet to receive any credible threats.
Johnson released a statement regarding the school threats. That statement is available below.
"We are doing all we can to address what is a reaction that is hard to understand. These types of actions and reactions are far more serious than the old days of kids pulling fire alarms to cause disruption and to get out of class or school. These threats are far more harmful and potentially deadly. Parents, please talk to your children about these issues and be patient with law enforcement and the process. The Director of Schools especially requested that you make your children aware that if they see, hear, or read about a threat – have them share it with a schoolteacher or administrator. Do not spread it on social media or text messages to exacerbate the disruption, share it with the people in charge of the classroom or school."
