Two Teens Arrested for Making Online Threats Against Hall County Schools

Two teenagers have been arrested following investigations into online threats made against three Hall County schools. On Thursday, September 5, Hall County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) personnel, including patrol deputies, school resource officers (SROs), and Criminal Investigations Bureau (CIB) detectives, responded to numerous reports from citizens concerned about online posts threatening violence against multiple schools in the Hall County School District. While the threats were determined to be hoaxes, investigators identified two suspects responsible for creating and sharing the threats.

Jaymon Alan Justice, 17, of Flowery Branch, was arrested Thursday night at his residence and charged as an adult with terroristic threats and acts, and disruption or interference with the operation of public schools, both misdemeanor offenses. Investigators found that Justice had edited a social media post referencing a threat at another school outside Hall County, tagging Cherokee Bluff High School, and shared the post on Snapchat. He remains in the Hall County Jail with a bond set at $2,600.

The second suspect, a 13-year-old male, was charged as a juvenile. The investigation revealed that he shared an Instagram message indicating he would commit an act of violence at Johnson High School and South Hall Middle School. The juvenile was taken into custody without incident at his residence and transported to the Regional Youth Detention Center (RYDC) in Gainesville, where he faces juvenile complaints of terroristic threats and disruption or interference with the operation of public schools.

“It is disheartening that anyone would threaten a school, but beyond that, it is infuriating that these threats – hoax or not – come on the heels of the horrific attack that happened this week at Apalachee High School,” said Sheriff Gerald Couch. “I commend our community members for staying vigilant and alerting law enforcement when they see something suspicious. I assure everyone that we will do everything we can to find those responsible for spreading unnecessary fear, especially in our schools.”