Calhoun authorities have arrested 35 year-old Melissa Watson after sharing false information on the “Concerned Citizens of Gordon County” Facebook page.
According to reports, the post about a shooting caused a “substantial disruption to school operations”.
Watson allegedly posted about a 9th grader having a gun at Calhoun High School. When asked by another poster if the statements were correct, Watson replied, “According to who I have talked to, yes, they already have started dismissing the middle school side and said he was a 9th grader and was in the ELA hallway,” and she further stated that “Parents are being called I was just informed by my 9th grader.”
School officials later told law enforcement that Watson’s son was absent the day she made the comment on Facebook.
Calhoun City Schools later confirmed that the incident never happened and there was never a student with a gun, parents were never contacted and school was not dismissed.
Calhoun City Schools later issued the following statement, “The information that was spread caused unnecessary panic and was completely false. Law enforcement agencies and school districts have dealt with numerous unsubstantiated social media posts regarding weapons or threats at school. While it is important to prioritize the safety of students and staff, spreading false information only hinders the efforts of law enforcement and school officials. It is crucial to verify facts and only share information from reliable sources. The Calhoun Police Department and Calhoun City Schools’ official social media accounts, emails, and Remind messages to parents provide trustworthy information.
“Calhoun City Schools, Board of Education and the Calhoun Police Department are committed to prioritizing school safety. Please contact them for accurate information if you have any questions or concerns. It is important to not rely on information found on social media and to refrain from spreading rumors. Individuals will be held accountable for sharing false information.”
