DEKALB COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN) — A 17-year-old student has been charged after he allegedly threatened to carry out a shooting at DeKalb County High School.

According to the DeKalb County Sheriff's Office, rumors about a possible shooting planned at the high school began to circulate among students on Wednesday, Aug. 27. A student on a school bus reportedly heard about the threats and alerted the principal via email.

As a result, officials said the principal contacted the school resource officer, who then notified the sheriff's office. A detective and an agent with the Department of Homeland Security reportedly interviewed the student who sent the email, along with other students on the bus, which led them to learn the perpetrator's name.

When investigators went to the 17-year-old's home, he allegedly admitted to making the threats, but no weapons or threatening notes were found in his room. In addition, authorities said the 17-year-old did not state whether he intended to carry out the threats.

Further investigation reportedly revealed that the 17-year-old warned another student to not attend school on Thursday, Aug. 28, because he was going to "bring a gun and carry out a shooting, something his brother couldn't do last year." DeKalb County Sheriff Patrick Ray reported that the 17-year-old's brother made a similar threat last year and was charged.

The 17-year-old has since been named in a juvenile petition, charging him with making a threat of mass violence on school property.

"On August 27, 2025, a 17-year-old juvenile did verbally state to another student at DCHS, 'Don’t come to school tomorrow. I’m going to bring a gun and do a shooting'. The juvenile also told the student, “I am going to do something my brother couldn’t,'" read the juvenile petition, in part.

According to the sheriff's office, the 17-year-old was taken into custody Wednesday evening and is being held at a detention center pending a juvenile court hearing.

No additional details were immediately released.

News Source : https://www.wkrn.com/news/local-news/dekalb-county-student-charged-for-making-school-shooting-threat/