Teen charged with twice threatening to ‘shoot up’ a South MS high school, authorities say

Authorities charged a 16-year-old with making terroristic threats to Harrison Central High School, which went on lock down twice in recent weeks after the suspect called and threatened to “shoot up” the school, the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office said.

The juvenile, who authorities did not name, faces two counts of making terroristic threats.

Authorities said the suspect made two calls, one on August 30 and one on Wednesday, that threatened a shooting at the high school. Authorities found no credible threat in either case, said Hanna Hendry, a spokesperson for the Sheriff’s Office.

The juvenile was not a student at Harrison Central, Hendry said.

Investigators arrested the teenager at his home on Wednesday. He was booked at the Harrison County Juvenile Detention Center and is held without bond pending a juvenile detention hearing.

Wednesday’s lock down has since been lifted and school operations have returned to normal, the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office said. Police said the school entered a soft lock down, which meant it did not allow anyone in or out but kept operating while deputies checked the building.

The school also entered a lock down on Friday but returned to normal after authorities said they found “no active threat.”

This is a developing story and may be updated.

This story was originally published September 4, 2024 at 3:50 PM.