Student in custody following Tues. threat

One in custody on class B misdemeanor following racially motivated threat

From Staff Reports

The Citizens Journal has confirmed that the Atlanta Police Department (APD) has taken one student into custody regarding a threatening note found at the Atlanta High School yesterday (Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2016).

According to Deputy Superintendent Joey Geletka, the note contained a threat to kill black students.

The APD reportedly received a confession of the student's involvement in placing the note on high school property. According to Lt. Allen Williams, the investigation is still ongoing and there may be more than one student involved.

The young man will be booked within the hour and charged with disruptive activities under the state education code, a class B misdemeanor.

Superintendent Sidney Harrist spoke to the Citizens Journal briefly this afternoon as well and expressed his concern for ensuring all the district's students are safe. Atlanta ISD posted additional officers on campus at the high school today and took other precautions in case of any backlash from the incident.

"We have got to take things like this seriously," Harrist said. "The students may not always, but we are living in a day and time when we have to. Safety is our number one goal. I want to make sure that all our 1,700 students are safe."  

The Citizens Journal will have more information on this case as it becomes available.