On September 20, 2024, the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office was alerted to social media threats targeting Villa Rica Middle School and Bay Springs Middle School. The posts, which included a picture of a handgun, made disturbing references to potential shootings, with one message stating, “Who’s ready for the shootout of the century?” The posts also named specific schools and locations where the threats would occur. In total, four posts were made by the student.
Upon receiving this information, investigators immediately began working to track the threats and identify the individual behind the social media account. Through their investigation, they were able to trace the IP address linked to the Instagram account responsible for the threats. On September 21, 2024, investigators obtained a search warrant for a residence in Villa Rica, where it was discovered that a juvenile living at the address was enrolled in one of the schools mentioned in the posts.
During the search, the juvenile admitted to making the threatening posts. While no firearms were found at the residence, investigators confiscated several electronic devices for further analysis. The juvenile was charged with two counts of terroristic threats, two counts of disruption of a public school, and possession of a Schedule 1 narcotic for being in possession of a THC vape pen. Authorities have confirmed there is no ongoing danger to the schools at this time and the student has been removed from the school and the case has been turned over to Juvenile Court. The investigation remains active, and additional arrests may be made.
This incident comes in the wake of heightened concerns following the tragic events at Apalachee High School several weeks ago. Since then, Carroll County School Resource Officers, patrol deputies, and investigators have responded to approximately 36 school-related threat investigations, leading to 20 reports and 8 arrests.
Scott Cowart, Superintendent of the Carroll County School System, expressed his gratitude for the close collaboration between the schools and law enforcement, stating, “We are fortunate to have a strong partnership with law enforcement that supports our schools in a variety of ways. Their assistance is crucial to ensuring that our campuses are safe, and our staff and students can focus on learning. Beyond safety, our partnership benefits our schools and community by supporting the overall health and well-being of our students.”
The Carroll County Sheriff’s Office encourages the public to always practice the “see something, say something” principle, reporting any suspicious activity or threats immediately. It is crucial not to recirculate misinformation or rumors that have already been addressed by authorities. Sharing unverified information without reporting it to the proper authorities—such as 911, local law enforcement, or school administration—only contributes to the problem.
The safety of our students is the top priority, and the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office takes threats like these extremely seriously. If you have any information related to this incident, please contact Investigator Tyler North at 770-830-5916.
