Byrnes High School Threat Contained

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           On Monday, January 14, a seventeen year old male Byrnes High School student threatened to shoot 42 students and 8 teachers at the Byrnes Freshman Academy with 12 and 16 gauge shotguns and a 38 caliber handgun.

            According to News Channel 4, the seventeen year old posted the threat on Facebook, which included Satanic remarks.  Dr. Jeff Rogers, Byrnes High School principal, questioned the teen, and he said that he had planned to go through with what the threat said, but “changed his mind Sunday night,” reported WYFF4.

            Officials also spoke to the student‘s father, who confirmed he had access to the weapons.  They took the guns for safekeeping.

The student was taken to the hospital for mental evaluation.  Sheriff Chuck Wright thought this was a better option for the teen instead of jail.

            The teen was taken into custody at his house, suspended from school, and put on trespass notice.  The situation is being handled as a mental health issue.

            Because of this incident, Spartanburg County District 5 has decided to place officers at all schools for the foreseeable future. District 5 feels officers on campus demonstrate that threats of this nature will not be tolerated.