The FBI and the GBI say that school threats have increased since the tragedy at Apalachee High School in Barrow County earlier this week.  At least eleven students have been arrested this past week across Georgia, including one in Rome yesterday.  The Rome Police Department released the following statement yesterday:

A 17-year-old has been detained by Rome Police after an investigation into threats of violence at a local school.

Nathaniel Porter Kozelle of Rome was detained Friday afternoon and later booked into the Floyd County Jail on charges of terroristic threats and acts, and disrupting the operation of a public school, school bus, or school bus stop.

Schools within the Rome City School System were placed on lockdown around lunchtime Friday as information regarding threats was discovered and shared with school system administrators.

Rome Police Department Investigators worked with School Resource Officers and determined that the individual who allegedly made the threats was not on campus at the time of the lockdown.

He was later located at his residence, detained, and subsequently charged.

Schools within Rome City remained on lockdown through the end of the school day.

The Rome Police Department takes threats of violence and school safety very seriously; if you or someone you know is witness to written or spoken threats of violence or destruction, please call 9-1-1, the Anonymous Crime Tip Line at 706-236-5000, or the Rome Police Department at 706-238-5111