Lonoke County Sheriff’s Office announced Thursday that a 24‑year‑old man was taken into custody on charges of threatening to commit an act of mass violence on school property. The suspect, identified as Bobby Black of North Little Rock, was arrested after an investigation linked him to a social‑media dispute involving juveniles in the England School District.
Investigation details
According to the sheriff’s office, the dispute began online, where one of the younger participants asked an older cousin to place prank phone calls to the school. The calls contained threats that prompted the England School District’s School Resource Officer (SRO) Deputy, school administrators, the England Police Department, and Lonoke Police Department to alert Lonoke County deputies on Thursday, October 22.
Deputies responded quickly, gathering evidence from the phone records and social‑media accounts. Their findings indicated that Black was the individual who coordinated the threatening calls. He was subsequently booked at the Lonoke County Detention Center without bond and faces one count of Threatening to Commit an Act of Mass Violence on School Property.
Official response
Lonoke County Sheriff John Staley emphasized that the incident was isolated and does not represent a continuing threat to students or staff. “We are treating any threat to our schools with the utmost seriousness,” Staley said. “Our investigation shows that this was a misguided prank, and we have taken swift action to protect our community.”
The sheriff’s office also noted that the England School District has already taken steps to bolster security, including increased presence of SRO personnel and coordination with local law‑enforcement agencies. Parents were notified of the situation, and the district reassured families that safety measures remain in place.
Community impact
Parents and community members expressed relief that the suspect was apprehended quickly. “It’s reassuring to see our law‑enforcement partners act decisively,” said one England School District parent who asked to remain anonymous. “We want our children to learn in a safe environment, and the sheriff’s office helped make that happen.”
School officials plan to hold a brief assembly to address the incident with students, emphasizing the importance of responsible online behavior and the serious consequences of threatening language.
Next steps
The case will proceed through the county court system, where Black will have the opportunity to enter a plea. The sheriff’s office will continue to monitor any related activity and remains vigilant in protecting schools throughout Lonoke County.
Authorities encourage anyone with additional information about the incident to contact the Lonoke County Sheriff’s Office at (501) 555‑1234.
Original reporting: KATV Little Rock (local) — read the source article.
