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Detectives with the St. John Parish Sheriff’s Office are investigating a threat of violence to East St. John High School in Reserve.

On November 16, 2023, about 7:30 p.m., school administrators notified school resource officers of images circulating on social media featuring what appeared to be a message threatening a shooting at East St. John High on November 17, 2023. School resource officers immediately reported the information to the SJSO Criminal Investigations Division.

Shortly after detectives identified and located the student who posted the message on social media, a 17-year-ol male who attends the school. Detectives interviewed the male subject in the presence of his parents, and he subsequently confessed to creating and posting the threat on social media.

Through further investigation, detectives determined the student was not planning to carry out the threat. Detectives learned the student’s motive was that he was angry for being disciplined by the school for a previous matter.

Out of an abundance of caution, however, the school was closed November 17, 2023. The incident is still under investigation.

Sheriff Mike Tregre stresses that the St. John Parish Sheriff’s Office and the St. John Parish School System will take any and all threats at parish schools seriously. All threats will be investigated; and arrests will be made, if warranted, Sheriff Tregre said.

“The SJSO will continue to work with school officials to ensure the continued safety of all students and faculty at our local schools,” Sheriff Tregre said.

Sheriff Tregre also cautions parents and students not to share images or rumors of threats on social media to prevent public fear and panic. Instead, please report threats and rumors to school and law enforcement officials to properly investigate.