Bomb threat puts police on alert at MJHS

Mt. Juliet High School was searched Monday for a possible explosive device after police were notified that morning of a threatening message posted on an internet message board, safety and law enforcement said.

It was a particular unwelcome bit of news for  Wilson County Schools Safety Director David Burton, who was experiencing the first day on the job.  A former detective with the Lebanon Police Department.  Burton is no stranger to public safety issues.  He said proper authorities are taking appropriate measures to investigate the threat and handle the situation.

"Apparently the tip came from a message posted on a Mt. Juliet High School Alumnus message board on the internet, which made a reference to an explosive devise in the school set to detonate at a time later this week.  The message was signed by the name of a student, but at this point we do not know whether someone simply used that name or if it really came from the send, and there was no e-mail address left," Burton said.

Burton said that Sheriff Terry Ashe, SRO Coordinator Lt. Larry Pugh, and WEMA officials responded at the scene joining Mt. Juliet officers who had already responded.
Pugh said the school was searched as thoroughly as possible, turning up nothing, and Mt. Juliet Police confirmed that they did respond to such a call and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has taken jurisdiction over the case.

An FBI official said that the agency assumed jurisdiction because of the internet aspect of the incident and the interstate capabilities of the mode of communication.  He said the three agencies are cooperating together as the investigation continues.

"From our reports, they did not turn up anything when they searched the school and we are naturally hoping this is just a false alarm.  But in light of all the school violence in the past years, we are taking it extremely seriously," Burton said.

"If the police are able to trace the message and identify a suspect, that suspect can and most definitely will be charged.  People have go to understand that no matter how serious they are or not, any threat made to a school, its students, teachers, or administrators, verbally, over the internet, over the phone or in any other way just will not be tolerated," Burton said.

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