RUTHERFORD COUNTY, TN - Deputies with the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office (RCSO) announced Tuesday the arrest of two juveniles in connection with threats made on social media targeting local schools. The arrests come in the wake of a series of online threats that have heightened tensions and disrupted schools across the district, leaving both parents and students on edge.
According to RCSO, more than a dozen threats have been directed at Rutherford County schools since the tragic shooting at Apalachee High School in Georgia on September 4, 2024. That incident, which claimed the lives of two students and two staff members, has reverberated across the South, leading to an uptick in security concerns in school districts far beyond Georgia.
Locally, the juveniles responsible for the threats are currently facing serious charges, although specific details regarding their identities and the nature of the threats have not been made public due to their age. However, reports indicate the threats were focused on Whitworth Buchanan Middle School and Riverdale High School, both in the Murfreesboro area.
The RCSO stated that while no credible evidence suggested an imminent threat to schools, all cases involving threats are treated with the utmost seriousness. Sheriff’s deputies have increased patrols around local schools as a precautionary measure, and the district has emphasized that the safety of students and staff remains their top priority.
The Tennessee Sheriff's Association released a statement about the violence and the mere threat of actions suggesting violence towards schools: “One of the main goals of an Elected Sheriff is to provide quality safety and ensure citizens feel secure in their surroundings. With the increased volume of school threats being made across the state of Tennessee, we want parents, students and citizens to know that we will not tolerate anyone making threats and inciting fear within our schools and community. Those responsible will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Making threats of violence against a school is a class E felony offense TCA 38-16-517, which carries life-altering consequences.”
The statement continued: “We urge parents to monitor what their child is posting on social media platforms and talk to them about the seriousness of making or even sharing threatening posts. As always, we continue to urge the community to report anything suspicious or potentially threatening in nature toward schools or any public building. We understand the frustration, stress and fear communities across our state are dealing with, and we will continue to investigate every threat received in an effort to ensure the safety of our schools and all citizens.”
In Rutherford County, some students have posted past threats that have circulated social media since 2018. See more HERE on authorities asking others not to repost any potential threat they read and instead, notify law enforcement.
Williamson County,TN - In Franklin, Tennessee, the Franklin Police Department is offering the pubic an opportunity to learn how to be prepared if there is an active shooter emergency.
The department is hosting a free, Citizens’ Response to Active Shooter class. This presentation will take place in the Franklin Police Department’s Community Room, located at 900 Columbia Ave.
“Unfortunately, mass shootings happen far too often in our country. Over the past week, a high school in Georgia and a stretch of interstate in Kentucky became the latest targets,” said Franklin Police Chief Deb Faulkner. “The ultimate goal of this class is to inform members of our community how to respond to a situation we hope they will never have to experience.”
Those interested in signing up can select one of two dates on either Tuesday, September 24 Or Tuesday, October 8. Both sessions are from 6 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. Attendees must register at this link in order to participate.
Warren County, TN - In Warren County, Tennessee, law enforcement and the District Attorney's office sent out a press release that highlights the level of importance being placed on any type of threat against a school. Putting words into action, two arrests have already been made this year after threats were allegedly made towards local schools in the Warren County and Van Buren County district.
See what the Tennessee Sheriff’s Association released HERE.
MORE: At Apalachee High School, located in Barrow County, Georgia, a 14-year-old student allegedly opened fire, killing four and injuring seven others earlier this month on September 4, 2024. The tragic incident, which unfolded roughly 50 miles northeast of Atlanta, has added to the growing list of school shootings that have sent shockwaves across the country.
Apalachee High School, home to about 1,900 students, is now the site of what has become a somber reflection of an issue that continues to haunt American education. According to authorities, the young suspect has been charged with four counts of felony murder, and additional charges may follow as the investigation progresses. The injured victims, although surviving the initial attack, are still recovering from gunshot wounds—leaving the community reeling in fear and grief.
The tragedy has reignited the national conversation on school safety and the urgent need for change at multiple levels.
