Three arrests made in School Threat

The Knox County Sheriff’s Office Juvenile Detectives Unit has arrested three juveniles from Gibbs Middle School for placing a false active shooter call to 911 today. The calls came into E-911 at 11:31 and 11:32, where reports were made of an active shooter at Halls Middle School.
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Those juveniles arrested are all three in eighth grade at Gibbs Middle School. Two males and one female have all been charged with Making a false report, which is a felony, threats of mass destruction, which is a misdemeanor, and abuse of the E-911 Communications system, also a misdemeanor.
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The only threat made was for the active shooter at Halls Middle School. No other threats to any other Knox County School were made. However, all three Gibbs schools were on lockdown for the investigation. Additionally, all three Halls schools were locked down during the initial incident.
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“I know today was a scary time for students, faculty, and parents in the Halls community. I want to make it very clear THIS TYPE OF CRIME WILL NOT BE TOLERATED. I, along with everyone at the Knox County Sheriff’s Office, take any threat against our schools, children, and staff seriously. We will charge the individual(s) to the fullest extent of the law with the full backing of our District Attorney General, Charme Allen.
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I was incredibly proud of the response to this incident from the Call Takers/Dispatchers at 911, our School Officers assigned to the Knox County Schools, our Patrol Officers and Detectives who made it to the Halls Campus so quickly, and the Knoxville Police Department who also assisted; as well as the Knox County Schools Security Team, Halls Faculty, KCS administration, Rural Metro Fire and AMR ambulance service.
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Everyone executed what we continuously train for in a professional, expedited manner, and I am very grateful it was not an actual shooter situation and everyone was safe.
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The three juveniles arrested are being held at the Juvenile Detention Facility. Parents and Guardians, I ask you to talk with your children; please let them know the seriousness of crimes like this and the consequences that will follow. Thank you to our Juvenile Detectives for your hard work in this case.”
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-Tom Spangler, Knox County Sheriff