ATHENS, Ala. — Police arrested a 10-year-old boy Friday for allegedly making threats against other children.
The unidentified boy is a student at Athens Intermediate School. Police said the threats were sent via text to students who attend Athens Middle School.
Police Chief Anthony Pressnell said the child was arrested at his home.
“Working with school officials, we quickly identified the student, who was not a school today," he said. “Our department takes any threat seriously. Students need to realize there are consequences for making such threats.”
Athens City Schools released a statement asking parents to speak with their children about the consequences of making threats. There have been at least nine arrests this week of children in the Tennessee Valley who are accused of issuing verbal, text or social media threats.
The school system said in its statement that numerous threats have been shared this week through social media. Most of these threats originated in other states, but they continue to fuel fear in Athens students as they are shared over and over.
“We are thankful for the students and parents who have reported potential threats, Athens school leaders said.
Pressnell commended the school resource officers, school staff and his department for reacting quickly.
An outbreak of threats has swept across the country in the weeks following a shooting in Georgia that left two students and two adults dead. A 14-year-old boy is accused in that incident.
His father also faces charges.
