On Monday, September 9, 2024, a student at Northwest Rankin Middle School received a text message related to a threat of mass violence to be perpetrated on school grounds.
Unfortunately, neither school officials nor any law enforcement agency was contacted regarding the threat. This morning (Sept. 10, 2024) school officials were alerted to the existence of the threat and immediately acted by alerting the Safety & Security Division of the Rankin County School District and the Rankin County Sheriff’s Department.
In cooperation with multiple local, state, and federal agencies, a juvenile suspect was identified and arrested without incident. The individual was charged with Making of Terroristic Threats (§97-7-75 MS Code) and transported to the Rankin County Juvenile Detention Facility in Pelahatchie, Mississippi. The suspect will make an appearance before Rankin County Youth Court Judge Kent McDaniel.
The successful response, investigation, identification and, arrest of the suspect was made possible through the efforts of Northwest Rankin School Administrators and Staff, the Rankin County Sheriff’s Department, the Flowood Police Department, and the Mississippi Office of Homeland Security.
Although an arrest has been made in this case the Rankin County Sheriff’s Office said this investigation is still ongoing.
