LIMESTONE COUNTY, Ala. — A total of four Limestone County students have now been arrested this week for making threats against schools or students. On Wednesday, students from Elkmont High School and Clements High School were arrested. On Thursday, it was students from Tanner High School and Clements high School
The most recent arrest involved a threat that made on Snapchat. Officials said it was directed at students attending Clements High School.
Prior to the fourth incident, Limestone County Sheriff Joshua McLaughlin posted the following statement on Facebook, addressing students, families, and the community:
Thursday, September 12, 2024, a threat was made by a Tanner High School student to the school. SRO Townsend was quickly notified and detained the student. Probable cause was found to arrest the student for making a terrorist threat in the 2nd degree. This arrest is the 3rd arrest of a Limestone County student making a threat this week. These threats have to stop! We remain committed to investigating every threat and taking the appropriate action when the offender is identified. We will not tolerate these threats in our community.
Parents, please talk to your children about the seriousness of their words and actions. We know these conversations are challenging, but they must be had. Tips to consider include:
1. Talk to them about their feelings. These threats often create fear and anxiety in your child; listen and try to understand them.
2. Explain that it is expected to be anxious when worried about your safety and your friends.
3. To alleviate their fears, providing accurate information that puts everything into context is crucial. This will empower them to understand the situation better and not succumb to unnecessary panic. Discuss safety protocols and explain that law enforcement constantly monitors these threats to keep them safe.
4. Limit social media use and exposure. Heightened awareness in processing these threats can cause prolonged distress even after the threat is gone.
Again, please stop sharing threats on social media. In sharing these posts over and over again, you are continuing to fuel the fear that the offender wished to inflict on our students. Nearly every social media threat we have received originated in a different state and was posted to cause panic when pushed through social media nationwide. Rest assured, should the threat originate here we will find them and arrest them as we have with these three students this week. We are committed to your children's safety and will continue to take every necessary step to ensure it.
And
On September 12, 2024, at 2:09 p.m., a tip was submitted to investigators via the info@limestonesheriff.com email. The threat was made on Snapchat and directed to students at Clements High School. During the investigation, the suspect was identified. While working to locate them, a guardian called to report the juvenile had confessed and wanted to speak to investigators. The Student was located at home and taken into custody at 5:25 pm. Investigators found probable cause to arrest the juvenile for making a terrorist threat in the second degree. This will make the 4th arrest for threats to our schools this week.
“Thank you to those of you who reported this threat to us. We will continue to arrest these offenders until each is held accountable for their crimes. If you threaten our children in Limestone County, we will find you, arrest you, and prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law.” ~Sheriff Joshua McLaughlin
PREVIOUS STORY:
An Elkmont High School student was arrested on Wednesday after allegedly threatening other students. According to the Limestone County Sheriff's Office, the arrest is for making a terrorist threat in the second degree.
Limestone County Sheriff Joshua McLaughlin provided the following statement on the matter:
"A person commits the crime of making a terrorist threat in the second degree when they, based on an objective evaluation, credibly threaten to commit a crime of violence against a person or to damage any property by use of a bomb, explosive, weapon of mass destruction, firearm, deadly weapon, or other mechanism. We will not tolerate these threats in our community, and when we identify those individuals who make these threats, we will prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law."
McLaughlin thanked the students who came forward with information about the threat.
"We are dedicated to taking all school threats seriously and will persist in holding accountable those who jeopardize the safety of our children," he said. "It is important to remember that if you notice something concerning, don't hesitate to speak up.”
The incident is one of several of threats directed at local schools this week. Boaz High School and some schools in Madison County have been on heightened awareness after they were tied to threats made to schools across the country in recent days. While the threats were not found to be credible, school leaders were not taking any chances.
A Muscle Shoals Middle School student was taken into custody after allegedly making terrorist threats against his school, as well.
