DECATUR, Ala. — UPDATE (4:30 p.m.) - Decatur Police issued the following statement:
On April 25, 2024, staff at Austin High School and Austin Junior High School were advised of a potential threat against two students.
Investigators with the Criminal Investigation Division were called to investigate. Decatur City Schools temporarily placed both schools on secure perimeter and later switched to heightened alert status for the remainder of the day. Students continued regular instruction and followed normal dismissal times.
Our original reporting is as follows:
Decatur
Austin high school and Austin Junior high school in Decatur are on heightened alert due to a potential domestic issue. As of now, the school is in a secure perimeter, according to Decatur City Schools.
Decatur Police is investigating a threat made to a specific family. Decatur City Schools says the family have children that attend the schools. Instruction is continuing at both locations.
Lawrence County
Around 8 a.m. on April 25, the School Resource Officer at Hatton School, prompted by an anonymous tip, found a firearm from a 16-year-old male student at the high school. The firearm, identified as an unloaded .45 caliber Taurus handgun, was discovered in the student's backpack, which he was carrying. Officials verified the firearm's serial number and found out it had been previously reported stolen.
The student was taken into custody and transported to the Juvenile Probation Office. As of now, there is no indication of any personal threats made by the student. In response to the incident, the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office has increased its officer presence at the school.
We will continue to update you as we learn more.