Social Media Threat Disrupts School; Alleged Poster Arrested

Barron

An 18-year-old has been arrested and charged after he allegedly made threats against Vidalia High School and school officials Wednesday morning.

The Vidalia Police Department reports that numerous complaints of a threat to commit an act of violence was posted by Antonio Tyreke Barron on social media and those threats went viral resulting in police being called to the school. But even before their arrival, school officials had already begun an internal investigation into the threat.

During further investigation, it was determined that officials at Vidalia High School had interviewed Barron, dismissed him from school and the campus, and had transported him to his residence where police contacted him and took him into custody.

He was transported to the Toombs County Detention Center and charged with one count of Terroristic Threats.

Meanwhile, two teachers received multiple text messages from an unknown number threatening to commit an act of violence towards the school. Due to the ongoing threat of violence, the Vidalia Police Department took a proactive approach and made an emergency request for the response of nearby K-9 units that are specialized in explosive and article searches.

When those K-9 units arrived at the school, the Vidalia Police Department informed school officials that the high school would be on lockdown during the search. During the search, officers received numerous complaints of a firearm being on the school property. At the end of the search, no weapons were located, and the lockdown lifted. Vidalia High School resumed normal school operations after the site was cleared.

K-9 units responding included the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Chatham County Sheriff’s Office, Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, and the Long County Sheriff’s Office.

If you have information on this incident, contact Lt. Investigator Shannon Martin of the Investigative Service Division or Lt. John Humphrey of the Patrol Service Division of the Vidalia Police Department at 912-537-4123.

The specific content of the alleged terroristic threat(s) was not divulged. Barron was given a $5,000 property bond at his first appearance and has bonded out of the Toombs County Detention Center.