A student at Lake Harbor Middle School in St. Tammany Parish was arrested Wednesday after authorities say he intentionally spread a false rumor that another student had brought a gun onto campus, prompting a significant law enforcement response and a school-wide lockdown.
According to the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office, the incident began when a 13-year-old student allegedly told others that a fellow student was carrying a firearm at school. The claim quickly spread, leading school administrators to place the campus under a shelter-in-place order as a precaution while the situation was investigated.
Law enforcement officers responded immediately and conducted a thorough investigation to determine whether there was any credible threat to students or staff. After examining the allegations, authorities determined that the report was unfounded and that no firearm had been brought onto campus.
Once investigators concluded the rumor was false, the student accused of starting it was taken into custody and charged with menacing. Following the arrest, the juvenile was released to the custody of his parents.
The incident caused concern among families and students, many of whom spent much of the morning awaiting updates while the school remained under heightened security measures. Parents were notified of the situation through communications from school administrators.
One parent told WWL Louisiana that she received a voicemail message from Lake Harbor Middle School Principal Robin Mitchell informing families about the shelter-in-place order and the ongoing investigation. The notification reassured parents that school officials and law enforcement were working together to ensure the safety of everyone on campus.
Although the threat proved to be false, authorities emphasized the seriousness of making statements or spreading rumors involving weapons in schools. Such reports require immediate investigation and can disrupt school operations while causing fear and anxiety among students, staff, and families.
The St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office continues to encourage students to report legitimate safety concerns while reminding them that intentionally spreading false information can result in criminal consequences.
School operations later returned to normal after authorities confirmed there was no threat to the campus.
