September 13, 2024, HAMILTON COUNTY, Tenn. – In recent years, Tennessee has faced a growing number of threats against schools, leading to heightened legal measures. On Friday, a student from Normal Park Upper School in Chattanooga was arrested after making a racial threat on a school bus. The student allegedly said, “I’m going to shoot y’all up,” and has been charged with a threat of mass violence. The Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) confirmed there is no ongoing danger to students or staff.
That same day, authorities discovered a gun in the backpack of a student at Chattanooga Preparatory School. The student fled the scene before being detained, and the search for him is ongoing. This marked the second major school safety incident in Hamilton County that week. A day prior, another student at the same school was charged with threatening to kill two teachers. Sheriff Austin Garrett emphasized that every threat is taken seriously, especially in light of the recent increase in school-related incidents.