Editor’s Note: The following is the ERPD report verbatim detailing the incident.
On 2-17-2018 police were dispatched to 4214 Ringgold Road (East Ridge Police Department) to take a report on threats made to shoot up East Ridge High School. Police came in contact with a female juvenile who stated she attends East Ridge High School. She stated a friend of hers sent her a screenshot of a Snapchat posted by male juvenile that goes to East Ridge High School making threats to shoot up the school. Police saw the screenshot. It was a picture of an AR-15 rifle with a caption of “waiting for it to got out n start killing people. … I called it a little bitch even. Still hasn’t moved.”
The rifle in the photo is sitting on a table and no person is seen in the photo. While on the call police received multiple calls regarding this matter, along with other agencies receiving the same complaint.
Police contacted the East Ridge High School school resource officer, Deputy Korter, and informed him of the situation. He stated he was aware of the situation and knew the male juvenile that posted the Snapchat. He stated he had been in contact with the school’s principal and they were going to speak to the male juvenile on Tuesday morning when school resumes after the holiday.
Police also contacted CID Massengale and he responded. Police were able to gather the male juvenile’s name and were able to check his social media. The male shared a photo from a Facebook page REDACTED, who is a male and lives in South Dakota (according to the Facebook page). Police were able to locate where the male juvenile lives and relocated to his address REDACTED to speak to him regarding the issue.
Upon arriving the male juvenile answered the door and stated he knew why officers were there. We asked if his guardian, REDACTED was home and he stated yes. Police then entered the house and spoke to the male juvenile with his guardian. Police explained to him why sharing that photo was not a good idea given what happened in Florida this previous week where a student killed 17 people at a high school.
REDACTED told police that juvenile made her aware of the situation after he began to receive calls and text messages regarding the post.
She stated she made him take it off Instagram, Facebook and Snapchat. The juvenile apologized multiple times to police stating he did not mean for his post to cause this big of an issue. The juvenile advised his post was simply showing his support for the second amendment of the constitution. He stated he was not going to shoot up East Ridge High School and had no intent to cause anyone any harm.
REDACTED told police that the juvenile does not own any weapons.
East Ridge police are investigating a juvenile’s threatening social media post.
According to a press release from the department, on Saturday night East Ridge Police were contacted by multiple students and parents of East Ridge High School about a fellow student’s Instagram post they perceived as threatening in nature.
Contact was made with the student at his residence. The student advised his post was in no way meant to be threatening, and was meant to show support for the Second Amendment of the Constitution. The student was apologetic his statements had been misconstrued, but understanding of how his comments could be taken out of context due to recent unfolding national events.
According to police department officials no credible threat currently exists from this situation.
East Ridge police, the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Department and the Department of Education will follow up with the student when school resumes, the press release states.
According to one East Ridge police officer, the social media post contained an image of an assault rifle with remarks that were menacing. The officer said that a number of people came to the police department at about 10 p.m. demanding that police take some action.
