--UPDATED AT 5:06 PM SEPT 25 WITH 2 ARRESTS
--UPDATED AT 12:49 PM SEPT 26 WITH IDENTIFYING INFORMATION AND CORRECT SPELLING OF NAME
Brief lockdowns occurred Friday morning at Franklinton High School and Mount Hermon School.
Officials stressed that the lockdowns were an abundance of caution. Nothing occurred at either school that was a direct threat to students. Two people have been arrested in connection with the lockdowns.
Reports said that a social media video post of a gun in a backpack and a mention of Franklinton High School was related to Thursday night's vote by the Washington Parish School Board to move junior high and high school students from Mount Hermon School to Franklinton Junior High and Franklinton High. However, the social media post was apparently intended as a hoax. The video was not new -- it had been previously circulated.
Hadyn Stafford and Lacey Richard were arrested and charged with terrorizing for using the video to create an emergency situation.
Officials said that at no time were any students in immediate danger. As Franklinton High School explained in a statement, "We were made aware by law enforcement of a social media post circulating this morning that tagged/named our school. We want to clarify that the student referenced in that post is not a student at our school. Out of an abundance of caution, we briefly implemented a lockdown while law enforcement verified information and ensured the safety of our campus. At no time were our students or staff in immediate danger. The situation has been addressed. The lockdown has been lifted and normal operations have resumed."
The lockdown at Mount Hermon School was also lifted and nothing occurred at that school either.
Law enforcement officials said an investigation into the incident was continuing.
Hadyn Stafford, age 18, is a 2026 graduate of Mount Hermon School. Lacey Richard, age 20, attended Franklinton High School into the beginning of her senior year.
A person who contacted The Era-Leader to correct the spelling of Hadyn's name insisted that the two young ladies did not have bad intentions but rather thought what they did was a joke. This person said the two suspects might have had strong feelings about the decision to change Mount Hermon School, but "they would never deliberately do something to hurt people."
However, Washington Parish Sheriff Jason Smith said, "Regardless of intention, we respond to any post that could potentially be related to violent acts regarding schools. People need to understand the world is different and even careless jokes have consequences.”
