Social media threat targets Liberty Tech HS; Officials say no merit found

JACKSON, Tenn. — As students got off the bus at Liberty Tech High School Friday morning they were met by a heavy police presence.

“I just thought here we go again or ‘here we go,'” Parent LaDonna Anderson said.

Several Jackson Police and Madison County Sheriff cars were at the school after a threat on social media circulated threatening violence.

“Having a thought that he, well he or she, because not just mine, may not come home,” Anderson said.

The school sent out an auto call to parents Wednesday night saying they were aware of the incident and were on top of the threats.

“We discovered these had no basis or merit to the threats, but having said that we are still going to operate under the assumption that everything we hear we take seriously,” Sergeant Bill Young said.

Young works for the Madison County Sheriff’s Office and is the supervisor of the School Resource Officers in Jackson-Madison County.

“I just told my son this morning to be careful and I love him. I told him if anything changes please contact me and let me know,”Anderson said.

For the students behind the threats, the end result is not pretty.

“There have been a number of cases in the last 24-48 hours where the students have been tracked down and they are now facing criminal charges,” Young said.

Anderson told me she can’t understand why anyone would want to threaten a school.

“Back when I was going through the school system we had things we worried about, but this was not one of them. Our parents didn’t have to worry whether or not their child was going to come home,” Anderson said.

Young says parents should take a deep breath because he is making sure their kids are safe.

“Their children are not in danger. They can send their kids to school and they will be safe,” Young said.

Young says if you see a threat call and report it the school resource office or a school administrator first. Not social media.

Dr. Eric Jones spoke out about the incident.

“There is nothing more important than the safety of our campuses,” said Dr. Eric Jones, JMCSS Superintendent.  “We are grateful for the partnerships with our law enforcement and their quick action in investigating any threats.”