Pineville, La. (9/29/2025) – UrbanCast has confirmed that the Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office has arrested a juvenile in connection with a social media threat made earlier today against Pineville High School. The juvenile has been booked into the Renaissance Home for Youth on a charge of terrorizing.
Law enforcement determined that the threat was non-credible, but the investigation continues as detectives collect more evidence. Separate threats against Alexandria Senior High and Peabody Magnet High School also remain under investigation.
Rapides Parish School Board’s Updated Statement
This afternoon, the Rapides Parish School Board (RPSB) released a statement from Superintendent Jeff Powell, thanking law enforcement, school staff, and parents for their role in navigating today’s events:
“First, I want to thank all of our local law enforcement agencies for their tremendous assistance today. The Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office, the Alexandria and Pineville Police Departments, and Louisiana State Police all pulled together to make sure students and employees of Rapides Parish Public schools were safe.
I also want to applaud the school administrators and staff at Alexandria Senior High, Peabody Magnet High, and Pineville High Schools for their relentless efforts today to keep students safe.
Thank you to the parents for trusting us and for doing your best to help our teams navigate these intense situations.
At this point, the Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office has apprehended a suspect for the threat to Pineville High School and that suspect has been booked into the Renaissance Home for Youth.
The investigation into the threats to Alexandria Senior High and Peabody Magnet High is currently still active. If anyone has any information on these threats, please contact RPSO at 318-473-6700, the Alexandria Police Department at 318-441-6442, or Crime Stoppers at 318-443-7867.
We will continue to have an increased presence of law enforcement officials on our campuses tomorrow. At this time, our school day and after-school activities will run as normal for Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025.
Again, I thank everyone for their concerted efforts to keep our schools safe.”
— Superintendent Jeff Powell
Terrorizing in Louisiana: The Law and Penalties
Under Louisiana Revised Statute 14:40.1, terrorizing is defined as the intentional communication of information whether true or false about potential violence or danger with the intent to cause fear, disrupt operations, or force evacuations.
Penalty:
Terrorizing in Louisiana is punishable by up to 15 years in prison, with or without hard labor, and a fine of up to $15,000. Juveniles are generally placed in youth facilities such as the Renaissance Home for Youth, but the charge is still severe and carries long-term consequences.
A Message to Parents from UrbanCast
At UrbanCast, we want to pause and emphasize what this means for families. Even one reckless post can put a child’s future in jeopardy.
We urge parents to sit down with their children and explain Louisiana’s terrorizing law. What may feel like a joke or a way to get attention online can result in serious charges, school disruptions, and a lasting impact on a young person’s education and future.
School threats don’t just affect one campus, they create fear across the community, strain law enforcement resources, and upend the daily lives of students, teachers, and families. By talking openly at home, parents can help prevent these incidents before they start.
