Canton police say an FBI tip about threatening social media posts led officers to uncover an alleged plan targeting Cherokee High School in Georgia. According to a Canton Police Department Facebook post cited in the report, three people were arrested and charged with conspiracy to commit murder.
How police say it unfolded
Police in Canton said the investigation began when the FBI identified threatening posts and notified the Cherokee County School District Police. A juvenile Canton resident was arrested on Oct. 20 and charged with conspiracy to commit murder and disruption or interference with the operation of public schools, according to the report’s summary of the police statement.
Three days later, two additional arrests followed. Police identified one suspect as Shane Keith Taylor, 17, of Metter, Georgia, who was charged with conspiracy to commit murder and booked into the Cherokee County Adult Detention Center. A second suspect, Michael Brandon Terry, 21, of Chatsworth, California, was arrested by the FBI and the Los Angeles Police Department and faces a conspiracy to commit murder charge, according to the report.
What was seized
Police agencies seized firearms, ammunition, and electronic devices during the investigation, according to the account of the Canton Police Department’s post.
What officials told parents
According to the report’s description of a letter to families, parents were informed the arrests were connected to an alleged conspiracy to carry out a shooting at Cherokee High School. The letter said the juvenile arrested was formerly a student at the school. The report quotes superintendent Mary Davis asking parents to discuss the seriousness of the matter with their children.
Chief’s statement
“The safety of our students and school staff is a top priority, and we take every threat seriously,” Canton Police Chief Marty Ferrell said, according to the report. He added, “I appreciate the quick action of our law enforcement partners and the dedication of our detectives in identifying and arresting the suspects.”
The police department urged parents to teach children the importance of reporting threats and asked anyone aware of a threat to contact law enforcement, per the account of the department’s post.
