PBPD Chief Lloyd Franklin on Oldies 101.3 Friday morning on arrest of 12 year old
Press Release from Pine Bluff Police Department
A 12-year-old student of Jack Robey Junior High was arrested Thursday evening about 9:30 p.m. following an investigation into the student’s alleged threats against the school. Shortly after 8:00 p.m. on 05/05/2022 the student posted a photo on the social media app Discord. In the photo the student was holding a handgun with a post claiming their intent to shoot up the school.
The post was brought to the attention of Pine Bluff Police by a concerned parent shortly after the post was made. Officers and Detectives with the department launched an immediate investigation to determine who the young man was that made the post. By 9:30 p.m. the suspect had been identified and arrested. During the course of the investigation the gun shown in the picture was seized by members of the agency. The motive behind the post and how he obtained the firearm is still being investigated.
At this time, we believe this young man was acting alone when he made the post and there are no other suspects or threat to the school. Because of his age the young man will not be identified by name but he is being held at the Juvenile Justice Center. He is currently being held on charges of 1st Degree Terroristic Threatening, Threatening to commit act of mass violence on school property, and being a Minor in Possession of a Firearm.
Chief of Police Lloyd Franklin Sr is proud of the swift work of both the patrol officer and the detectives on the case. Their diligence and speed allowed for the suspect to be identified and arrested quickly. There actions quite possible prevented a disaster. He said additional officers were on campus of both Jack Robey Junior High and Pine Bluff High today. The officers presence was precautionary and a show of commitment of the Pine Bluff Police Department to keep our young citizens safe.
