More Arrests at East Tennessee Schools for Threats of Mass Violence, False Reporting and Arson

More Arrests at East Tennessee Schools for Threats of Mass Violence, False Reporting and Arson

School threats and arrests continue in Knox County Schools.

The Knox County Sheriff’s Office responding to five school threats yesterday (Thursday) morning.   A twelve-year-old seventh-grade female student from Cedar Bluff Middle was arrested for threats of mass violence, a twelve-year-old Gibbs middle school female student was arrested for false reports and an 11-year-old, Hardin Valley Middle School female student has been arrested for Threats of Mass Violence. 

The Knox County Sheriff’s Fire and Explosive investigation unit, along with Juvenile Detectives investigating a trash can that was intentionally set on fire at South Doyle High School arrest a 14-year-old male student at the school for Attempted Aggravated Arson, setting fire to personal property, and vandalism.   

Several law enforcement agencies in Roane, Morgan and Loudon Counties are investigating a string of school threats, with several students being taken into custody.

District Attorney General Russell Johnson says waves of posts on social media speculate about what happened at Rockwood High School this week.  A person or group of people have been circulating two “vague and non-specific” posts threatening violence at Rockwood High School, but those posts are four years old by a troubled child.

Johnson also said the person or group who’s dredging up the old posts likely have some animosity towards Roane County law enforcement.

The DA says a Wartburg Elementary School student was charged Wednesday for statements they made in class and a Roane County High School student was charged for making their own statements. Two Cherokee Middle School students were charged, one made a verbal threat and the other falsely reported a threat last week.