Clinton High School is briefly placed on lockdown after a possible threat.

Officials with the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office say the threat was reported on the sheriff’s office’s app, prompting a soft lockdown and an investigation.

Authorities say the threat was reportedly shared on social media by a former student but following investigation, it was determined that there was no actual threat made to any school or students.

That lockdown has been lifted.

UPDATE (8/15/23): Tellico Plains town officials report the water system is back up and running, but a boil advisory is now in effect. “After you boil your water, it is safe to drink. We are asking you to do this for a few days to be on the safe side,” officials said.

All Tellico-area schools will be closed on Wednesday, according to MCS. The schools affected are Coker Creek Elementary School, Rural Vale School, Tellico Plains Elementary School, Tellico Plains Junior High School and Tellico Plains High School.

ORIGINAL STORY: Tellico Plains, TN (WOKI) Storms moving through our area have left one East Tennessee town with major flooding.

Tellico Plains residents will see many roads flooded this morning but that’s not the worst of it.

Mayor Marilyn Parker says that many residents have lost their water service due to flooding at the water plant which is three feet under water. Parker says they are working at the treatment plant but don’t know how long it will take to get water service restored.

The Knox County Mental Health Court Advisory Board will meet for the first time this Thursday to begin ironing out an operations timeline that will establish a court for adult defendants who have serious and persistent mental illnesses.

The meeting will be held in the Small Assembly Room of the City/County Building at 3 p.m. on Aug. 17.

The court is designed to provide individualized treatment as an alternative to incarceration and strengthen the justice system’s ability to identify, asses, and monitor the participants. It will also improve public safety by ensuring that participants receive high quality, community-based services.

Similar courts were established across the country beginning in the 1990s and there are about 300 of them. The concept, however, is fairly new in Tennessee, which has only seven such mental health courts. Knox County would become the eighth – something Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs and Knox County Criminal Court Clerk Mike Hammond are proud to have begun working on more than a year ago.

“Mental health is a strong contributor to the cycle of incarceration in Knox County, and across the country,” said Mayor Jacobs. “I’m glad we are working to become one of the state’s early adopters of helping and/or treating the individual rather than perpetuating that cycle, which is expensive, ineffective, and doesn’t address the underlying problem.”

The goals of the Knox County Mental Health Court include improving the quality of life for participants; reducing incarceration and recidivism; reducing correction costs; improving public health and safety; and increasing treatment accountability and success.

“Mental illness, like physical illnesses, can affect anyone regardless of education, income, or zip code,” said Hammond, who also chairs the 6-member committee. “If someone comes to court with a broken arm, we do what we can to get them bandaged up. The same should be true if they’re in need of treatment for a mental health issue. Research shows that showing this kind of care and compassion is more likely to keep people out of the justice system.”

The advisory board includes Criminal Court Clerk Mike Hammond, Attorney General Charme Allen, Criminal Court Judge Steven Sword, Criminal Sessions Judge Chuck Cerny, Public Defender Eric Lutton, and local attorney Jonathan Cooper.

The group plans to meet again Thursday, Nov. 16 at 3 p.m. in the same location.

UPDATE (8/14/23): After almost two weeks on the run, a Knoxville teen is taken into custody Monday in connection to the August 1 shooting at Edgewood Park.

Knoxville Police Department officials report Mohammed Ibaawee was taken into custody on Pertinax Drive. He is charged with attempted first-degree murder among other charges, stemming from the August 1st shooting that happened at Edgewood Park.

A 19-year-old man was seriously injured in that shooting.

UPDATE: Homicide Unit detectives have obtained warrants charging Mohammed Ibaawee, 19, with attempted first-degree murder, especially aggravated robbery and employing a firearm with the intent to go armed, stemming from the August 1st shooting that happened at Edgewood Park. A 19-year-old man was seriously injured in the shooting.

Anyone with information concerning Ibaawee’s whereabouts is urged to contact East Tennessee Valley Crime Stoppers at 865-215-7165. Tipsters can remain anonymous.

Ibaawee should be considered armed and dangerous.

ORIGINAL STORY: The Knoxville Police Department Homicide Unit is investigating a shooting that happened on Tuesday afternoon in Edgewood Park. 

At just after 4 p.m. on Tuesday, August 1, 2023, KPD Officers responded to 2901 Ocoee Trail on the report of a shooting with a victim. 

Officers arrived on scene and found a man, age 19, who had been shot multiple times in the parking lot adjacent to the library. The victim was transported to the UT Medical Center, where he remains in critical condition. 

Numerous Officers responded to the area and were unable to locate the suspect despite extensive efforts to do so. 

The shooting is not believed to be random in nature. Based on the investigation conducted so far, it is believed that the victim arrived at the location where the shooting occurred to make a pre-arranged purchase. 

Detectives are pursuing strong leads in the investigation, which remains ongoing at this time.