Mayfield, Ky.–A former Graves County High School student is under arrest for threatening to commit a school shooting.
On Friday, January 28, 2022 at approximately 11:00 a.m. CST, Kentucky State Police (KSP) Post 1 was contacted by the Graves County High School Resource Officer requesting assistance with investigating a threat of a school shooting.
Initial investigation revealed that Joshua Smith, 18 year old male of Fancy Farm, KY, who was a prior student of Graves County High School, had created a social media page using another current student’s name. While utilizing that page, Smith made several threatening statements to another student of Graves County High School, including a statement threatening to commit a school shooting the following week.
On Saturday, January 29, 2022 at approximately 11:20 p.m. CST, Kentucky State Police arrested and charged Smith with Terroristic Threatening, 2nd Degree and Theft of Identity of Another Without Consent. He was taken to the Graves County Detention Facility to then be transported to and lodged at the Calloway County Jail.
The investigation is ongoing by KSP Detective Nate Moore.
Kentucky State Police urges all parents and youth to be aware of the dangers of social media and attentive to suspicious activity. Suspicious activity and threatening statements should be reported by contacting KSP Post 1 at 270-856-3721 or anonymously at 1-800-222-5555. Citizens may also report tips anonymously through the KSP app. The app is available for iPhone, iPad and Android applications and can be easily downloaded free of charge through Apple and Google Play stores.