Juvenile confesses to Claxton bomb threat
Just before noon Tuesday, Oct. 30, the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department was dispatched to Claxton Elementary School for a bomb threat discovered by the school.
The school was immediately evacuated and students and staff were placed off property at Zion Baptist Church. Students were not able to return to school and were dismissed from the church.
The Sheriff’s department, with the assistance of a bomb detection K9 from Knox County, searched the school and found no evidence of a bomb.
Detectives with the Sheriff’s Criminal Investigations Division immediately opened an investigation and quickly located a suspect who has since confessed to making the threat.
The suspect’s name will not be released as they are a juvenile.
Sheriff Russell Barker praised the staff and administration for the school system for a quick response.
“The job done by Claxton Elementary School’s staff and administration was extraordinary. Their quick response is indicative of how well they are trained.
The cooperation between our departments led to a successful evacuation and a confession from a suspect. Great teamwork by all involved” Barker stated.
Deputy Director of Schools, Greg Deal, stated that the “Anderson County Schools take all threats very seriously and we will cooperate with the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department in holding individuals responsible for such acts.”
School was on normal schedule the following day.