Canton, Georgia: Three Arrested in Alleged Cherokee High School Shooting Plot

Police in Canton, Georgia announced on Tuesday, October 27 that three people have been arrested in an alleged conspiracy to carry out a shooting at Cherokee High School. The Canton Police Department said the FBI found threatening posts on social media and alerted local officers, and that searches during the investigation turned up firearms, ammunition and electronic devices. All three suspects face charges of conspiracy to commit murder, and police said the investigation is still active.

How the investigation started

The case began on October 19, when Cherokee County School District police contacted Canton detectives after the FBI passed along the threatening posts. Detectives identified a juvenile who lives in Canton and arrested the youth on October 20. The juvenile is charged with conspiracy to commit murder and with disruption or interference with the operation of public schools. Police are withholding the juvenile's name because of age. Cherokee County School Superintendent Dr. Mary Elizabeth Davis said the juvenile is a former student at Cherokee High School, WSB-TV reported.

Arrests in Georgia and California

As detectives kept working, a Cherokee County magistrate issued arrest warrants for two more suspects on October 22. On October 23, officers made both arrests on the same day in two different states. Shane Keith Taylor, 17, of Metter, Georgia was arrested in Metter by Canton detectives working with the FBI, the Candler County Sheriff's Office, the Georgia State Patrol, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Taylor is charged with conspiracy to commit murder and was booked into the Cherokee County Adult Detention Center. The same day, the FBI and the Los Angeles Police Department arrested Michael Brandon Terry, 21, of Chatsworth, California. Terry is also charged with conspiracy to commit murder and remains in California while he awaits transport to Georgia.

What police have not said

Investigators have not released details about the alleged plot itself. Police have not said what the suspects planned to do, how close they came to doing it, how the three knew each other, or what role each suspect is accused of playing. Officers said they are holding back those details to protect the investigation. During the searches connected to the arrests, law enforcement collected firearms, ammunition and electronic devices as evidence.

"The safety of our students and school staff is a top priority, and we take every threat seriously," Canton Police Chief Marty Ferrell said. "I appreciate the quick action of our law enforcement partners and the dedication of our detectives in identifying and arresting the suspects." Police also credited the Cherokee County District Attorney's Office, led by District Attorney Susan K. Treadaway, and the state and federal agencies that worked on the case.

The school response

Authorities said there is no known ongoing threat to Cherokee High School or to other Cherokee County schools. District officials briefed faculty and staff at the high school and at a neighboring middle school, added police presence on the Cherokee High School campus, and arranged extra counselors for students and staff. The district notified families and employees about the arrests. Canton police asked parents to talk with their children about reporting threats right away. Anyone with information about the case can call the Canton Police Department at 770-720-4883 or send a tip to tips.fbi.gov, and police said people should call 911 for an active emergency.