Jackson County Sheriff Janis Mangum Thursday defended her office’s handling of information a year ago about threats targeting schools allegedly made by the accused Appalachee school gunman. And also revealed an arrest following a threat by a Jackson County student after the shooting in Winder.
JCSO NEWS RELEASE:
“On Wednesday September 4, 2024, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office receive a report of a threat that was made on the bus from one school to another school in Jackson County.
It was reported that a 15 year old male made statements about the Apalachee shootings and was planning on finishing the job to shoot another school in Jackson County. There were witnesses to the statements that were made.
The juvenile male was transported to the Sheriff’s Office, where he was interviewed. The juvenile was charged and detained at the Youth Detention Center in Gainesville…”
ON THE DEFENSE :
“First and foremost, as Sheriff and on behalf of the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, we extend our heartfelt sympathy to the Apalachee High School, the victims’, their families, loved ones, Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith, the Barrow County Sheriff’s Office and all of Barrow County in the active shooter incident today.
The FBI confirmed that they received an anonymous tip in May 2023 regarding threats posted to an online gaming site. In under 24 hours, the FBI determined the post originated in Georgia and the FBI Field Officer referred the information to the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division for action.
Within a short time, the Sheriff’s Office located a possible subject, a 13 year old male, at which time the 13 year old and his father were interviewed. The 13 year old denied making the threats online.
A thorough investigation was conducted. During the course of this investigation, the gaming site threats could not be substantiated. The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office alerted local schools for continued monitoring of the subject.
My phone is blowing up with messages from people about social media postings about other possible incidents. To my knowledge, there is not a list indicating any of this…”
EARLIER STORY. POSTED 4 A.M. THURSDAY: Accused school shooter questioned last year about online threats (wgtjradio.com)