Student Arrested For Social Media Threat
Courtesy of Vidalia Police Department
After a social media post went viral, a Vidalia High School student was arrested on Wednesday, January 10, for threatening to commit violence towards the school.
According to police, the Department received numerous complaints of a threat to commit violence at the school from citizens and school officials. Officers began an internal investigation on the threat prior to even arriving at the school, and once they arrived, found that the person responsible for the threat was Antonio Tyreke Barron, 18, of Vidalia, who issued the statement after a social media post involving Barron went viral.
School officials told the police that they had interviewed Barron, dismissed him from school, and transported him to his home prior to the cops’ arrival. Officers then made contact with Barron at his residence and took him into custody, charging him with a single count of Terroristic Threats. As the investigation of the incident continued throughout the day, two teachers continued to receive multiple text messages threatening further violence from an unknown number. Because of these continued threats and concern, the Vidalia Police Department took a proactive approach and made an emergency request for the response of nearby K-9 units specialized in explosive and article searches.
When these units arrived, the Vidalia Police Department instructed school officials to place the school under lockdown so that a search could be completed. During the search, officers received multiple complaints of firearms being on the school property, but no weapons were located during the search. The lockdown was lifted and the school resumed normal operations.
The Vidalia Police Department shared its gratitude to the K-9 units of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Chatham County Sheriff’s Office, Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, and Long County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance.
Anyone with information on these incidents is asked to contact Lieutenant Investigator Shannon Martin or Lieutenant John Humphrey at (912) 5374123.
