Public safety officials are urging calm after a surge in reported school threats on social media in the wake of the recent shooting at Apalachee High School. While law enforcement continues to investigate, they warn that most threats seen online so far have been deemed non-credible.
The Details: Following the Apalachee High School shooting, law enforcement has been flooded with reports of potential threats, many of which have gone viral on social media. Police say these threats, largely spread through reposting and sharing, have led to unnecessary panic among students and parents.
Investigators remind the public that all threats—whether real or hoax—are taken seriously, and those making them face potential prosecution. However, authorities point out that these reports often spike after mass shooting incidents, as communities are on high alert.
The Treats: Here are some of the threats the GBI and FBI have looked into. Note, these threats may be disturbing, but we have included them here because we believe it is important for parents to see the things their kids are seeing on social media.
In Context: It’s common for school safety hotlines and local law enforcement to experience a surge in reporting after such tragic events, with students and the public more likely to come forward with concerns.
What’s Next? Authorities urge anyone who sees or hears of a threat to report it directly to local law enforcement. They also emphasize the importance of allowing investigators time to assess the validity of threats before spreading them further.
The community remains on alert as the investigation into the Apalachee High School shooting continues.
