BREAKING: FBI says accused Georgia high school shooter was on FBI's radar last year

Summary

A 14-year-old in Georgia is in custody, accused of a tragic school shooting that resulted in four deaths. Previously, the FBI had been alerted about the suspect when he was 13, after receiving anonymous tips about online threats to commit a school shooting. The FBI's National Threat Operations Center identified the posts' origin in Georgia, and local authorities interviewed the then 13-year-old and his father. Despite denials and assurances of no unsupervised access to firearms, the teenager is now charged with killing two students and two teachers.

Takeaways

• 🔍 The FBI had been monitoring the shooter for over a year before the incident.
• 📅 The FBI's National Threat Operations Center received anonymous tips about online threats in May 2023.
• 🔥 The online threats included photographs of guns and a plan to commit a school shooting.
• 📍 The FBI traced the online posts to Georgia and informed the Jackson County Sheriff's Office.
• 👮‍♂️ The Jackson County Sheriff's Office interviewed a 13-year-old suspect and his father.
• 🚫 The teenager and his father denied the allegations of making online threats.
• 🏫 Authorities alerted local schools to monitor the suspect, who was then 13 years old.
• 🔄 The suspect is now 14 years old and is in custody for shooting and killing four people.
• 👨‍🏫 The victims include two students and two teachers at the school.
• ⚖️ The case highlights the ongoing challenges in preventing school shootings despite prior warnings.

Q & A

What is the latest update on the school shooting in Georgia?

The FBI and Jackson County Sheriff's Office have confirmed that the 14-year-old accused of killing four people had been on their radar before.

When did the FBI first receive information about the shooter?

The FBI's National Threat Operations Center received several anonymous tips about online threats to commit a school shooting in May of 2023.

What was the content of the online threats that the FBI received?

The online threats contained photographs of guns and an unspecified threat to commit a school shooting at an unidentified location and time.

How quickly did the FBI identify the origin of the online posts?

Within 24 hours, the FBI determined that the online posts originated in Georgia.

What action was taken by the Jackson County Sheriff's Office after receiving information from the FBI?

The Jackson County Sheriff's Office located a 13-year-old suspect, interviewed him and his father, and alerted local schools for continued monitoring of the suspect.

What did the father say about the guns in the house during the interview?

The father stated that he had hunting guns in the house but that his son did not have unsupervised access to them.

Did the teenager admit to making the online threats?

The teenager denied making the online threats.

How old is the suspect now and what is he accused of?

The suspect is now 14 years old and is accused of shooting and killing two students and two teachers.

What was the relationship between the suspect's age when the FBI was notified and his current age?

The suspect was 13 years old when the FBI was notified of possible threats made by him, and he is now 14 years old.

What is the current status of the suspect in relation to the school shooting?

The suspect is in custody.

Were there any specific measures taken by the authorities to prevent the shooting after the initial threats were made?

Authorities interviewed the suspect and his father, alerted local schools for continued monitoring, and kept the suspect on their radar.