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Police: Suspect Arrested After Sending School Shooting Threat

A 20-year-old was arrested on suspicion of communicating a false alarm.
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GREENWOOD, Arkansas — Editor's note: The suspect's name has been removed from this story after the charges were dropped.

As a precautionary measure, Greenwood, Hackett, Hartford and Mansfield Schools were placed on a lockdown Monday (August 22).

A 20-year-old was arrested on suspicion of communicating a false alarm.

According to the Greenwood Police Department, Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, Okla. had begun an investigation into a text message perceived as a threat. While no specific school was mentioned in the message, the threat included language about a school shooting.

When the location of the phone was found to be in Greenwood, the Greenwood, Hackett, Hartford and Mansfield School Districts were placed on precautionary lockdown.

After investigators discovered the originator of the message, they drove to the suspect's residence and took him in for questioning. He was arrested at the Greenwood Police Department and placed in the Sebastian County Detention Center.

Greenwood Police Chief Will Dawson stated in a release, “We will treat every possible threat to our children seriously.  This is not a subject that will ever be ignored.”

The U.S. Forestry Service, Arkansas State Police and the Sebastian County Sheriff’s Office helped in the investigation.

The Greenwood School District released the following statements on its Facebook page:

“The lockdown has been lifted for all schools. Thanks to the local law enforcement for their support this afternoon!”

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