Police ID source of Obion Co. social media threat

UNION CITY, Tenn. — Authorities say they have identified the source of a threatening social media message involving two West Tennessee school systems.

A Snapchat post about a school shooting that caused a scare Thursday morning in Obion County has been linked to a 15-year-old female from Fulton, Ky., according to a release from the Union City Police Department.

An investigation by multiple agencies led officers to the teen. Officers have interviewed her and recovered her phone, and charges will be pending following discussion with the Attorney General’s Office both in Tennessee and Kentucky, according to the release.

The Union City Police Department and other agencies were notified Thursday about a Snapchat post that was to make Union City and Obion County Schools aware of “a live shooting at 8:15 am, and that no student should go to school,” according to the release.

Officers were dispatched to all schools in both systems, and school officials alerted parents via their notification systems, according to the release.

“We encourage parents to talk with their children about how to react in the event such an incident occurs,” the release states. “Also, parents please monitor what your children are posting on social media. The dangers and chaos this false report caused could have been much worse.”

We will have more on this story and hear from school officials, parents and students this evening on WBBJ 7 Eyewitness News.