CUMBERLAND COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE
Sheriff Casey Cox
CROSSVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT
Chief Jessie Brooks
CUMBERLAND COUNTY SCHOOLS
Director William Stepp
JOINT PRESS RELEASE
September 19, 2024
Crossville, TN – A student at Stone Elementary School and a student at Stone Memorial High School was charged with making a threat of mass violence following alarming statements made on both campuses. The threat was reported to the School Resource Officer (SRO) and school administrators by several students, that both students in separate incidents intended to either “shoot up the school” or “burn down the school”.
Upon receiving the reports, both SROs detained the students, and the District Emergency Response Task Force, consisting of the Crossville Police Department, Cumberland County School Officials, Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office, Department of Safety and Homeland Security, and others, was mobilized to assist with a thorough threat assessment and investigation in each of the incidents. As a result of the prompt actions taken by school officials and law enforcement, the school was able to continue operations without interruption, avoiding the need for a lockdown. The juvenile suspects have been charged under T.C.A. 39-16-517 for making a Threat of Mass Violence on School Property.
The District Threat Response Task Force assists with interviews, behavioral-based threat investigations, legal processes for electronic searches, and more to determine whether the individual who made the threat is capable and intends to carry it out. The Department of Safety and Homeland Security has investigated 321 threats since August 1, 2024 in Tennessee Schools.
Sheriff Casey Cox, Chief Jesse Brooks, and Director William Stepp continue to stress the serious nature of such threats, which are classified as a Class E felony and carry severe legal consequences. With the increased spike in school threats new aggressive steps will be taken to ensure the safety of all students. We want parents, students, and citizens to know that we will not tolerate anyone making threats and inciting fear within our schools and community. Those responsible will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. The plan moving forward in every county in the state is to arrest and prosecute. Tonight, sit your child down and explain to them that if they make school threats that cause fear to students, teachers, or staff they will go to jail.
We continue to encourage the community to report any suspicious or potentially threatening behavior related to schools or public buildings. We are committed to investigating every threat received to ensure the safety of our schools and all citizens.
Casey Cox
Cumberland County Sheriff
Jesse Brooks
Crossville Police Chief
William Stepp
Director of Cumberland County Schools
Submitted by:
Lt. Gary Howard
Director of Community Services
Public Information & Criminal Investigations