Teen arrested after making threats against Social Circle High School – Your Local News

This follows the arrest of a 17-year-old from Madison, GA, last week

SOCIAL CIRCLE, GA (September 12, 2024) – On Thursday, Social Circle Police announced another arrest in connection with last week’s social media threat against Social Circle High School.

“After a thorough investigation of the incident, a juvenile suspect was taken into custody. This latest arrest is the result of the department's ongoing efforts to ensure the safety of students, staff and the broader public,” said Captain Samantha Rose of the SCPD. “The initial threat posted on social media sparked concern among parents and school officials and resulted in an immediate response from law enforcement.”

SCPD Chief Jason Guest announced last week that 17-year-old A'Davion Clark of Madison was taken into custody with the assistance of Madison police and is currently being held in the Morgan County Jail on charges of making terroristic threats and disrupting a public school. At the time, authorities said the investigation was ongoing.

“We take any threat to our schools very seriously,” Rose said. “Our department has worked diligently to identify those responsible, and we want to assure the public that the safety of our students remains our top priority.”

Rose said the arrested juvenile's case is being processed through the juvenile justice system. No further details will be released due to the individual's age. She said the investigation is ongoing as authorities continue to monitor the situation and assess any additional risks. SCPD stressed the importance of community involvement and vigilance in identifying potential threats and thanked the community for its continued support.

In light of this arrest, Social Circle City Schools notified parents, school board members, and faculty of the arrest and informed them that the student's arrest followed an ongoing investigation into a photograph that circulated last week posing a threat to Social Circle High School.

“As promised, all threats have been taken seriously and we are fully cooperating with law enforcement to ensure the safety and well-being of our students, staff and families. We appreciate the diligence of police in their investigation and the student in question has been taken into custody,” said Kari Willis, SCCS Communications and Media Manager. “As we continue to make safety our highest priority, we want to remind everyone of the importance of 'seeing something, saying something.' If you or your child receive any information of concern, please report it immediately to a teacher or school administrator. This proactive approach has resulted in arrests thus far and will continue to play a critical role in keeping our schools safe.”

Since the tragic shooting at Apalachee High School on September 4, which left four people dead and nine injured, law enforcement has had to respond to a series of threats against schools that followed. At least two students have been arrested in Gwinnett County, and three in Newton County, one of whom was just 11 years old. In one case, a 12-year-old student at Clements Middle School was accused of making personal threats to students and staff.

All of these young people are accused of terrorist threats and acts and are subsequently brought before juvenile court, even if the threats turn out to be false or “simple hoaxes.”

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