ARKANSAS, USA — As schools across our area and the nation are seeing a surge in school shooting threats on social media, law enforcement agencies and government officials are continuing to take them seriously.
On Monday, the Fort Smith Police Department (FSPD) issued an alert informing the community of "recent threats circulating regarding potential shootings at schools, this time during a pulled fire alarm." They believe these threats are a national issue, but they're taking necessary precautions and investigating.
"It was not directed at Fort Smith Public Schools. However, it was shared by Fort Smith Public School students, where they're just showing each other and they're showing their teachers or showing some of the staff administration," Chief Eric Huber for the Fort Smith Public Schools Police Department said. "We're working together with them [FSPD] to investigate these, to see if they're credible, and to see if, if there needs to be any charges brought up on anybody that we can find."
Huber said they have measures in place that help secure students and their safety. When threats like these are circulating, officials increase security measures.
"We secure vestibules, having our schools completely locked at our schools at all times, and it's an increased police presence," Huber said. "One of the things that we're really proud of this year is the utilization of our artificial intelligence on our camera systems as well for our weapons detection systems."
He said there's a cost that comes when they have to investigate these posts.
"It takes the resources away that you have," Huber said. "It uses a lot of resources to investigate and also costs a lot of taxpayers' money because we're utilizing these resources in that way when, in fact, these are found not to be credible."
Huber said if you come across a threatening post, do not reshare it and bring it to law enforcement's attention.
In Crawford County, Prosecuting Attorney Kevin Holmes said they will investigate and take action on threats.
"Anytime there's a juvenile that's involved with a threat or with a gun, they have to see a judge in Crawford County," Holmes said. "If they're under 14, they are going to stay in the juvenile system. They're going to be on juvenile probation. They're going to have to take classes."
For a misdemeanor, an individual could face up to a year in the county jail and a $2,500 fine.
"At 16, any felony that's committed, we can start charging them as an adult, so they're facing anything from a terroristic threat to communicating a false alarm. It would just depend on the substance of the threat," Holmes said. "In a terroristic threat, that's a D felony. It's at its worst. That's up to six years in the Department of Corrections or up to a $10,000 fine."
Arkansas lawmakers passed a law in 2019 making any threat against schools a class C Felony. It's called "An Act Concerning A Threat To Commit An Act Of Mass Violence On School Property." Class C felonies in Arkansas are punishable by three to ten years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.
"It's dangerous for our community," Holmes said. "It's dangerous for the individual that's making those threats. We take it serious, and we expect the parents to. We're just encouraging individuals: don't. It's not worth it. You don't need to. You don't need to go forward with it."
Watch 5NEWS on YouTube.
Download the 5NEWS app on your smartphone:
Stream 5NEWS 24/7 on the 5+ app: How to watch the 5+ app on your streaming device
To report a typo or grammatical error, please email KFSMDigitalTeam@tegna.com and detail which story you're referring to.