On Wednesday, October 25, 2017, the Garnett Police Department was called to the Anderson County Jr/Sr High School for a report of threats. There, we were told a student made threats of bringing a gun to school and conducting a school shooting.
Through our investigation, it was determined these “threats” were started as in inappropriate joke. Through the rumor mill, this joke was manipulated and exacerbated to the point the joke now seemed as a credible threat to other students.
While there is no law in place for telling an inappropriate joke, there is school policy regarding student conduct. The student whom told the joke was dealt with accordingly as per school policy.
On Wednesday, November 01, 2017, the Garnett Police Department was made aware of more threats of a school shooting at the Anderson County Jr/Sr High School. Through that investigation, there was no evidence of any threats to the school. This “threat” was tracked to one particular student who played a part in the first rumor starting.
Through the investigation conducted by the Garnett Police Department, with assistance from Anderson County Jr/Sr High School Administration, it seems both of these “threats” started as a fictitious story that was exacerbated through the rumor mill.
Even though there was no evidence of any validated threat to the school, Officers from the Garnett Police Department and Deputies of the Anderson County Sheriff Office were at the school throughout the school day on Wednesday.
While at the school Wednesday, it was reported to administration that another student (not associated with either prior threat), was making gestures of having a gun on him. Through that investigation, the student stated he was “messing around” when he made a pump-action motion and placing a pencil in his hand as if it were a gun barrel and saying “bang” while pointing it at another student’s head. That student was dealt with according to school policy.
Throughout the investigations, it has been determined no legitimate threat was ever made to any student of the school, but rather inappropriate jokes were developed into threats through rumors.
As always, the safety of the public and our children is the number one goal of the Garnett Police Department, the Anderson County Sheriff Department, and USD 365.
