MT. JULIET, Tenn. (WKRN) -- Wilson County deputies determined a Snapchat threat that led to a "soft lockdown" at Mt. Juliet Middle School was not credible after discovering the threat came from across the state.
On Wednesday, Sept. 11, officials said a concerned parent made an anonymous tip about "a generalized threat that was being distributed around on Snapchat." The Wilson County Sheriff's Office, Mt. Juliet Police Department, and Wilson County Schools immediately investigated the threat, sparking a message from the administration to Mt. Juliet Middle families about actions being taken as kids started to arrive at school.
"There was a moment there, the first 15 to 20 minutes of school started a soft lockdown, and we've had a few calls from parents that say, 'Well, if there was a threat detected, why would anyone be allowed in school?'" Wilson County Schools Public Information Officer Bart Barker explained in a video on the district's Facebook. "While I cannot delve into all the weeds of the investigative process of Mt. Juliet police and the sheriff's office, they're very good at what they do. The information they had at that time did not suggest that A) some kind of a hard lockdown for whoever was in the building at the time, or...I will guarantee you this, if there was ever a situation prior to the start of school where, say, buses who are transporting Mt. Juliet Middle students to school, for example, like for this morning, or any other school for that matter, or anyone coming on campus, there would be widespread mass notification to say, 'No one enter the grounds of Mt. Juliet Middle based on this type of threat.'"
Due to the short time between when the tip came in and when school began, the sheriff's office said there was an increased presence of Mt. Juliet police officers and school resource officers, along with K-9 Zander and K-9 Zena, to make sure students and staff arrived safely.
Barker said there was a "steady line of checkouts" Wednesday morning, which is pretty common when school officials alert parents about any type of threat.
Authorities reportedly determined the threat circulating on Snapchat came from Knox County and was not directed towards Mt. Juliet Middle.
Once the threat was deemed non-credible, some parents returned their kids to school. One woman who brought her daughter back to Mt. Juliet Middle told News 2 the heavy presence of law enforcement helped make her decision.
The sheriff's office encourages parents to have discussions with their children about "the use of social media platforms and the importance of not sharing false information," adding that people should contact their local law enforcement agency directly if they have concerns about potential school threats.
A recent report by News 2 found that a Tennessee law that made school threats a zero-tolerance offense has led to a surge in expulsions.