Overview
- Federal agents flagged threatening posts and alerted Cherokee County School District Police, who referred the case to Canton detectives beginning the probe on Oct. 19.
- A juvenile from Canton was arrested Oct. 20 and charged with conspiracy to commit murder and disruption of school operations, and two more suspects were arrested Oct. 23 in Georgia and California.
- Authorities identified the two named suspects as 17-year-old Shane Keith Taylor of Metter and 21-year-old Michael Brandon Terry of Chatsworth; Terry is awaiting extradition to Georgia.
- Searches tied to the case recovered firearms, ammunition and electronic devices, and arrest warrants say the suspects had a school floor plan, chose Aug. 20 as a target date, and discussed tactical gear.
- Local and federal agencies credit cross-jurisdiction cooperation for disrupting the alleged plot, the district has increased on-campus security and offered counseling, and investigators are withholding some details while the probe continues.