The FBI has claimed that they did not directly investigate the suspect behind the tragic Georgia high school mass shooting this week. The student shooter accused of opening fire at Apalachee High School on Wednesday was anonymously reported to the FBI in 2023 over online threats and alleged threats to shoot up a middle school in a group chat on messaging app Discord. The FBI in Atlanta stated that they had not interviewed the suspect or visited his home. Instead, they provided the information from the anonymous tip to the Jackson County Sheriff, who conducted a more in-depth investigation and interviewed the suspect’s father. During the investigation, the suspect denied making any threats, and it was found that the allegations could not be substantiated, resulting in the case being exceptionally cleared.
The officer investigating the anonymous tips found that the information sent to the FBI was communicated via various IP addresses across the world, including locations in California and Australia. The profile name linked to the threats referenced the perpetrator of the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre. Despite this, due to the inconsistent nature of the information received, the investigating officer concluded that the allegations against the suspect could not be substantiated, leading to the case being cleared. Former FBI agent Rob D’Amico explained that if there is no immediate threat to life, it is protocol for the FBI to inform local law enforcement and have them investigate the tips further, as was done in this case.
According to a spokesperson for the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, the parents of the suspected shooter have been cooperative throughout the investigation. The suspect, a 14-year-old, has been booked into the Gainesville Regional Youth Detention Center after the tragic incident at Apalachee High School that left four dead and nine injured. Responding officials are focusing on the suspect’s past and motive at the start of the investigation, looking into the timeline leading up to the shooting, interactions with victims, indications of violent behavior, social media posts, and recent internet history. The FBI’s Atlanta field office and Jackson County Sheriff’s Office are working together to reconstruct an accurate picture of the suspect’s actions during the incident at the school.
Retired police sergeant and law enforcement consultant Matthew Fagiana emphasized the importance of investigating the suspect’s past and motive following the tragic events at Apalachee High School. This includes analyzing the timeline of the incident, examining the suspect’s interactions with the victims, and looking for any indications of violent behavior or potential motives. Responding agencies are conducting a thorough investigation of the scene to understand the suspect’s pathway through the school. Fox News Digital reporters Greg Norman, Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, and Stepheny Price contributed to the coverage of the incident, providing updates and insights into the ongoing investigation.
In response to questions about whether authorities are investigating the shooter’s parents in connection with the attack, a spokesperson for the Georgia Bureau of Investigation stated that the parents have been cooperative. The suspect’s father denied that the son had access to weapons, and both parents have been involved in the investigation so far. The suspect has been taken into custody and remains detained at the Gainesville Regional Youth Detention Center, located north of Apalachee High School. The investigation into the tragic events continues as law enforcement officials work to piece together the events leading up to the shooting and uncover any potential motives or reasons behind the suspect’s actions.
