12-year-old charged for making terroristic threats

TIFTON, Ga. – Tifton Police Department received information regarding a potential threat to the safety of staff members and students in the Tift County School District on Tuesday, October 7th.

Preliminary investigation on Tuesday revealed the threat was made online through social media and was directed towards Annie Belle Clark Elementary School.

The Tifton Police Department immediately initiated an investigation, and in collaboration with the Tift County Board of Education, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, worked throughout Tuesday night to identify the source of the threat.

As a result of investigation, law enforcement tracked the social media threat to a 12-year-old. The juvenile is charged with terroristic threats and acts (felony), and was taken into police custody pending a hearing.

The success of this investigation is the result of the immediate response and coordination by local, state and federal law enforcement and the Tift County School System’s Security Officers.

Anyone with information relating to this case is urged to contact Tifton Police Department at (229) 382-3132, or to submit an anonymous tip to Tip411. To send a message to Tip411, text the keyword TIFTONPD (space) and your tip to 847411.

The Tifton Police Department provides, with cooperation of the public, effective and efficient protection of life, individual liberty and property of all people within the City of Tifton. To learn more, please visit tifton.net/202/Police

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