Three teenagers have been charged with making threats against county schools in two separate incidents.
Timya Riggins, 18, and Wesley Pridgen, 19, were taken into custody late this morning (Sept. 12) on charges of communicating threats of mass destruction. They were placed under $100,000 secured bond each pending a first court appearance.
Petitions have been taken out against a 14 year old female in a separate case. She is charged with Communicating Threats of Mass Destruction.
The sheriff’s office said that Principal Shelly Cullipher of Nakina Middle contacted the school’ resource officer, Deputy Hooker, about a social media post claiming there would be a shooting at the school Sept. 13. The juvenile reportedly told the deputy that the threat came from an anonymous account.
“Further investigation revealed that the post originated from her own Snapchat account,” the report said.
The juvenile eventually admitted to making the post, according to the report. She had apparently altered the post to make it appear anonymous. The girl was warned by the social media app for violating community guidelines.
The girl was removed from school, and juvenile petitions are pending in the case.
In the West Columbus incident, a teacher at the school contacted the sheriff’s office Wednesday (Sept. 11) after a student reported receiving threatening phone calls. The caller used a “distorted voice” and said someone would “blow up West Columbus High School” the next day. Another juvenile reported receiving the same calls.
During the course of the investigation, one of the juveniles received a Snapchat message from Riggins, allegedly taking responsibility for the calls. Prank. Both juveniles provided screenshots of the communications, the report said.
Deputies executing a search warrant went to the home where Pridgen and Riggins live, the report said, but the two were not there at the time. Pridgen’s mother brought the pair in for questioning and took their cellphones, the report said. That investigation is continuing.
