Juvenile Charged With Attempted Murder After Threat Against Metter High School, Police Say

METTER, Ga. – A juvenile has been charged with criminal attempt to commit murder and terroristic threats after investigators determined the individual made a threat of violence targeting Metter High School, authorities announced.

According to Metter Police Chief McKinley Lewis, the Metter Police Department’s Criminal Investigative Division received a tip regarding a threat to carry out a violent act against faculty, staff and students at Metter High School.

Investigators immediately launched an investigation to identify the person responsible for making the threat.

The investigation quickly led detectives to a residence within the city limits of Metter, where the juvenile suspect was located. Police said the juvenile, who is not a student at Metter High School, was taken into custody while investigators gathered evidence, conducted interviews and continued developing the case.

Throughout the investigation, detectives coordinated with the Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice and the Middle Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office as evidence and facts were reviewed.

Based on the investigation, the juvenile was charged with Criminal Attempt to Commit Murder and Terroristic Threats and Acts.

Because the suspect is a juvenile, authorities did not release the individual’s identity.

Police also notified the Candler County School District about the investigation. Chief Lewis said he contacted Candler County Sheriff John Miles early in the investigation due to the nature of the threat, and information was shared with the Candler County Sheriff’s Office Investigations Division.

The Metter Police Department urged the public to promptly report any threats or acts of violence to law enforcement.

Officials also thanked several agencies for assisting with the investigation, including the Candler County School System, the Middle Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s Statesboro Regional Drug Enforcement Office, the Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice, Candler County Hospital and the Candler County Sheriff’s Office.

The investigation remains ongoing.