Three people have been arrested in connection with social media posts that appeared to threaten some Tangipahoa Parish schools, Sheriff Daniel Edwards said Monday.
The investigation began after the allegedly threatening posts began circulating on social media Sunday night.
The alarm set off by the reports caused Edwards to send deputies to all the parish schools to search for any weapons that may have been planted in the buildings.
In one instance, deputies intercepted a threat they say was made by an 18-year-old student at a parish high school. According to Edwards, Troy Webber of Amite High threatened to shoot his fellow students and faculty upon returning to school. Edwards said the threat was investigated and proved to be credible.
Webber was taken into custody and booked with terrorizing.
"They (Webber) acknowledged that he made the statement, but that he wasn't serious about it," said Edwards. “It is our job to track down the origin of all alleged threats. Social media threats are occurring more frequently, and the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office will be vigilant in investigating, locating perpetrators and prosecuting them to the fullest extent of the law. When we receive a report of this nature — no matter the time, day or night — I assure you every resource will be made available.”
In an earlier incident, the sheriff's office was notified Sunday night about a potential threat at Pontchatoula High School. By Monday morning, deputies had identified a juvenile in one of the local schools as a source for the alleged threat. Edwards said the juvenile got the post from a 17-year-old family member and then shared the post on Snapchat. Edwards said the post stated that students shouldn't go to school on Monday. "A school shooting is going to happen."
"It is an irresponsible thing to do. It’s actually a criminal act to further these types of threats and to post them on social media, that there are going to be consequences. I feel as sheriff and top law enforcer in the parish there has to be consequences," he said.
The sheriff said even though it was determined there was no credible threat, they had to arrest the 17-year-old and the minor.
"This kind of activity cannot simply be ignored just because someone may have been playing or not even serious. The fact is they caused terror in a community that was unnecessary," he said.
The post is believed to have originated and to be referencing an out-of-state school and had no bearing on Tangipahoa schools, according to Edwards.
The 17-year-old female was arrested and charged with contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile, while the juvenile was charged with "terrorizing."