A substitute teacher in Louisiana has been arrested after allegedly sending false active shooter alerts at five schools, prompting security measures across the district. Sheriff Henry Whitehorn Sr. reported the arrest of 58-year-old Lytonja Barfield on charges of menacing.
The Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office began its investigation after the school board raised concerns about potential threats following emergency alerts. According to Don Gibbs, the director of security for the school board, Barfield reportedly used the district’s emergency management system to issue the alerts.
School officials reacted to these alerts by implementing security protocols to protect students and staff until the threats were deemed false. Barfield has been identified as the source of the alerts, and authorities have taken her into custody at the Caddo Correctional Center.
The Caddo Parish Public Schools confirmed that Barfield is no longer employed by the district and was not assigned to any school site during the incident. The district is fully cooperating with the sheriff’s office’s ongoing investigation.
The specific schools involved and the security measures implemented have not been disclosed by the authorities. The sheriff’s office emphasizes that false reports can disrupt educational activities, cause fear in the community, and provoke unnecessary emergency responses.
The investigation of the false alerts continues. Authorities have not revealed a motive for Barfield’s actions.