Sheriff Announces Series of Threats Against Middle School Determined To Be A Hoax

In a post to social media this morning at approximately 10 a.m. , Stephens County Sheriff Randy Shirley announced that the Stephens County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) has been investigating a series of threats made against Stephens County Middle School between March 22 and March 24.

Shirley stated that the initial incident involved pre-recorded phone calls received by several students, detailing threats within the school premises. Upon receiving this information, deputies, investigators, and School Resource Officers (SROs) initiated an investigation, interviewing all parties involved and conducting a comprehensive sweep of the school facilities. 

Shirley stated that it was determined that the calls were a prank, and the school was found to be secure.

However, he said, on March 25, further threats came to light, echoing the previous incident. Once again, law enforcement responded, confirming that the threats were connected to the original hoax.

Subsequently, on March 26, rumors of threats resurfaced through social media, originating from a third-party account circulating via group text, Shirley said, adding that the SCSO launched another investigation, tracing the threats back to the initial incident.

Shirley urged parents and students to report any suspicious activity promptly and directly to local law enforcement, stating “the SCSO expresses disappointment in the dissemination of dramatic and potentially harmful information through social media platforms. Such actions only serve to incite panic and jeopardize the safety of our community. As we have seen recently, the spread of unfounded malicious information could result in actions taken by the school and/or possible criminal charges.”