Reading, Writing, and a “Hit List” in Cobb Schools

In a troubling shift from focusing on studies like reading, writing, and arithmetic, a Cobb County student has been arrested for allegedly spending his time creating a “hit list” targeting peers and staff at Walton and Pope High Schools.

This alarming incident adds to the heightened concerns around student safety in the region, following a wave of threats in the wake of the tragic Apalachee High School shooting in September, which left four dead and nine injured. The “hit list,” shared on social media, specifically named students, a staff member, and a school resource officer, intensifying the fear among parents, students, and educators.

The juvenile suspect, apprehended by Cobb County police with assistance from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, faces charges of terroristic threats and disruption of school operations. Due to privacy laws, no further information has been disclosed about the student.

Since the Apalachee incident, Cobb County Schools have dealt with over 75 false threats, putting a strain on school and law enforcement resources and increasing anxiety within the community. The district continues to urge anyone with safety concerns to report them through its anonymous tip line at cobbk12-ga.safeschoolsalert.com.