Sheriff Greg Champagne announces that on the morning of February 12, 2021, deputies responded to Destrehan High School after a threatening telephone call to “blow up” the school was received. The school’s student intake process was delayed, and the routine scheduling of classes were altered, due to necessary procedures put into place to ensure the safety of faculty and students attending school that day.

Throughout a very meticulous investigation, Juvenile Detectives were able to obtain ample evidence, identifying a 16-year-old student of Destrehan High School as the suspect. Sufficient probable cause was found allowing detectives to secure an arrest warrant signed by a 29th Judicial District Court Judge for Louisiana Revised Statute 14:40.1 related to Terrorizing.

Terrorizing is the intentional communication of information that the commission of a crime of violence is imminent or in progress or that a circumstance dangerous to human life exists or is about to exist, with the intent of causing members of the general public to be in sustained fear for their safety; or causing evacuation of a building, a public structure, or a facility of transportation; or causing other serious disruption to the general public. Under Louisiana law, whoever commits the offense of terrorizing shall be fined not more than fifteen thousand dollars or imprisoned with or without hard labor for not more than fifteen years, or both. As always, all suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

On February 23, 2021, the 16-year-old male suspect, under the supervision of his parents, turned himself into the St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office where he was booked as a juvenile and issued a return court date to answer for his felony criminal charge.

Sheriff Champagne states, “We are fortunate to have one of the best school systems in the state, and all foolish acts that hinder our children’s safety and education must and will be handled swiftly.” Sheriff Champagne would also like to thank the administration of Destrehan High School, the St. Charles Parish Public School Board, Superintendent Dr. Ken Oertling, and the investigating deputies and detectives for their great partnership and swift reaction to this incident, ensuring the utmost safety to our community.