18-year-old Antioch High School student Richard Michael Byers threatened to blow up the school on March 26th. Mr. Kirby, The assistant principal, told officers that he suspected Byers had a bomb. Before officers spoke with Byers, while they were walking through the school, multiple kids in the hallway stated that another kid had said something to the effect of having a bomb or explosives. Mr. Kirby advised that he originally contacted Byers because the Executive Principal, Ms. Burnette, wanted multiple students, of which he was one, to be searched due to excessive lateness. He added that when he spoke with Byers, he said, “I do not have guns; I have bombs.” Mr. Kirby said he tried to ignore him, but then he said, “I am going to blow up the school.” Byers was initially hesitant to go to the SRO office for questioning, but he complied and consented to a search, where they located two THC vape pens. Byers was then detained and Mirandized, under which he admitted to making the statements as a joke. Byers was taken into custody for a false report and threats of violence in school.
Richard Michael Byers of Granny Wright Lane in Hermitage, TN, was booked into the Metro Nashville Jail on March 26th, charged with threat of violence in school and false report. A judicial commissioner set his bond at $2,000.
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