Leeds police chief investigates high school student's social media threat

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama (WBRC) – Leeds Police arrested a high school tenth grader Thursday accused of threatening to shoot people in a school. The situation is increasingly worrying in Alabama following the school shooting. High School in Georgia, where four people died, including two students.

Authorities say they have to take every threat seriously because you never know what someone is capable of. They've seen that many times, including recently in Georgia, when a former Leeds student got into big trouble after making online threats against Leeds High School.

In the latest mass shooting in the country, four people were killed at Appalachee High School in Georgia on Wednesday. Just one day later, Leeds police prevented a similar situation in Alabama, according to Police Chief Paul Irwin.

“Think of the many parents across America who were afraid to send their children to school,” he said. “A student at Leeds High School had made a threat on social media.”

According to Irwin, the student is accused of making terrorist threats and will no longer attend school. He said a documented history with other students that was considered resolved led to the situation.

“I could tell from their demeanor that they didn't think it was a big deal, but when it comes to a shooting in a school, it's a big deal,” he said. “I think this student was very disturbed and needs therapy.”

Mo Canady, executive director of the National Association of School Resource Officers, agrees.

“We need to pay attention to these situations. They need to be thoroughly investigated,” he said.

Canady says more training is needed so that everyone who works with children can recognize the signs.

“We need more support in schools to help students when we see that they are in a difficult situation,” he said. “What they are doing in that moment may not be a criminal problem, but it may well be a mental health problem, a behavioral problem that needs to be addressed and treated.”

Chief Irwin is urging parents to be careful about what their children post on social media. He says police are still investigating the situation and determining whether the student's threat was credible.

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