Multiple in Memphis and Shelby County locked down their campuses on Wednesday after authorities confirmed threatening messages were posted online. Authorities have stated there was no immediate threat to any schools in the area, and reportedly that the messages were believed to have been created using chat bots and originated outside the United States.
Memphis-Shelby County Schools Superintendent Dr. Marie Feagins revealed at a press conference, where she spoke on Wednesday alongside with Memphis Police Chief CJ Davis and Sheriff Floyd Bonner Jr., that threats were first received by Southwind High School via a phone call, and later through social media.
A second phone call was then made against Whitehaven High School, followed by more social media posts later in the day, according to Feagins.
After the second round of threats, Feagins said MSCS was alerted to a series of social media posts at “several schools across the city,” prompting the decision to lock down every school “as a precautionary measure.”
Feagins also confirmed, “three individuals are detained related to threats made to Whitehaven High School,” but said the person or group behind the threats made against Southwind High School remains unknown as the investigation continues.
The superintendent also confirmed the threats against Whitehaven High School are separate from those made against Southwind High School and said that the threats were exacerbated by social media users sharing or reposting the original message.
The press conference came hours after Fox 13 Memphis reported a Memphis Police Department (MPD) spokesman “said many of the threats are coming from overseas and from chat bots that are sending the same images not only to Memphis but schools in other parts of the country.”
While the contents of the threats remain unclear, the claim they originated outside the United States comes after Ohio Governor Mike DeWine said the “vast majority” of hoax bomb threats that recently spiked in Springfield, Ohio came from a foreign country, but reportedly declined to specify which nation.
Prior to the press conference, the Shelby County Sheriffs Office (SCSO) announced there was no immediate threat known to law enforcement.
“As our investigation progresses, we no longer see an immediate threat,” SCSO confirmed. “We have agreed with Memphis Shelby County Schools to proceed with student dismissal.
The threats made to MSCS schools comes just weeks after the attack on Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia, where 14-year-old Colt Gray is accused of claiming the lives of four and left nine injured.
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Tom Pappert is the lead reporter for The Tennessee Star, and also reports for The Pennsylvania Daily Star and The Arizona Sun Times. Follow Tom on X/Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
