Forsyth Student Arrested After Another Social Media Threat

FORSYTH COUNTY, GA — The Forsyth County Sheriff's Office arrested a 15-year-old at West Forsyth High School Thursday for making threats on Twitter, one day after a 16-year-old student was charged with making terroristic threats of violence related to a school shooting at the same school, police say.

Thursday afternoon the Forsyth County Sheriff's Office responded to a social media threat at West Forsyth High School. As of 5 p.m., Sheriff's deputies report that they had located and arrested the 15-year-old male student who authored the social media threat against West Forsyth High School on Twitter.

These arrests happened only days after 17 people were killed at Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., by alleged gunman Nikolas Cruz, 19.

"Our investigation into both occurrences at West Forsyth High does not indicate any further suspects are involved," reads a police statement. "We continue to work closely with the Forsyth County School System and appreciate their immediate and unwavering assistance in these investigations."

Also, a separate threat was reported at North Forsyth Middle School Thursday, where students overheard a threat made by a student. Forsyth County Sheriff's Office, along with our Forsyth County School partners, made contact with the student. He has been taken for evaluation and treatment.

"The safety of our children is of the utmost importance, so we take all information seriously and continue to encourage students and parents to share information," reads a Forsyth Sheriff's Office Facebook post. "Furthermore, it is also important for parents to remind their children how severe their words can be, regardless of what context they are spoken, and they can trigger serious concern and consequences. Threats, in any capacity, are not a joking matter.

"Rest assured we will continue to thoroughly investigate all tips and threats made against our schools," continues the post. "Our heightened presence in addition to our School Resource Officers will continue at all schools."

A concerned parent notified the Forsyth Sheriff's Office Wednesday evening of a social media post made by a student which displayed a firearm and made a threat of violence.

The sheriff's office, in collaboration with the Forsyth County School System, immediately began an investigation into the report. After several interviews with the students and parents, lasting
well into the morning hours, the suspect was able to be identified and located.

Detectives with the Sheriff's Office Major Crimes Unit and School Resource Unit conducted an interview with the student and his parents. Based on the findings of the investigation the student was taken into custody and charged with one count of terroristic threats and acts then turned over to the Department of Juvenile Justice.

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