A Cumberland County high school student has been charged with making a threat of mass violence after comments made to fellow students were made known to authorities, according to a CCSO press release issued late Tuesday.
The Stone Memorial High School student is charged with making a threat of mass violence following alarming statements made to students Wednesday. Several students reported to the school resource officer and school administrators that the student made a statement threatening mass violence.
“The School Threat Assessment Team, consisting of school administration and the School Resource Officer, immediately brought the student to the school office and maintained supervision while an assessment was completed,” the press release reads.
“The District Threat Response Team consisting of school officials, and members of the Crossville Police Department and Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office responded to assist in the investigation. The School Threat Assessment Team did a great job containing the situation and obtaining valuable information for the investigation. No weapons were found and no students were ever in any danger.
“As a result of the prompt actions taken by school officials and law enforcement, the school was able to continue operations without interruption, avoiding the need for any type of lockdown. The juvenile suspect has been charged under T.C.A. 39-16-517 for making a Threat of Mass Violence on School Property.”
This is the fourth student who has been charged under the state statute in the past few weeks. A Crab Orchard Elementary student was charged Sept. 17 when fellow students told law enforcement and school authorities the student claimed to have a gun in his backpack and threatened to shoot up the school if they told on him.
Two days later, two students — one at SMHS, the other at Stone Elementary — were charged in separate unrelated incidents in which their fellow students reported they intended to either “shoot up the school” or “burn down the school.”
Sheriff Casey Cox concluded, “The community, students and staff are encouraged to report any suspicious or potentially threatening behavior related to schools or public buildings. We are committed to investigating every threat received to ensure the safety of our schools and all citizens.”