A social media post has led to the arrest of a McKenzie resident. Keon Williams, 30, was arrested and charged with Reckless Endangerment on Thursday after his Facebook post forced a “soft lockdown” of schools within the McKenzie Special School District.
A McKenzie Police Department incident report notes Williams made the following post on Facebook, “I’m like Ye. I’m back to shoot up the school mckenzie/Carroll county.” The MPD’s report further cites all schools in McKenzie were put on a soft lockdown because of the threat of violence and concern for the safety of students and staff. The FB post was reportedly noticed sometime during the morning of Thursday, Feb. 9.
MPD officers said they received several calls from concerned parents regarding the social media post. When officers located Williams later that morning, he allegedly admitted to making the post, but said it was a joke in reference to Kanye West to his “friends” group. Williams reportedly told officers he had no intention of shooting up any school and he didn’t mean to scare anyone.
Williams was charged with Reckless Endangerment for “making a threat of mass violence on school property, or school-related activity, which includes making threats of violence toward a school online.” The charge under T.C.A. 39-16-517, carries a minimum bond of $5,000.
Judge Michael King set Williams’ bond at $50,000.
Williams was transported to the Carroll County Jail by MPD Sgt. Austin Jones and Ptl. Shyann Williams.
