The Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office in Louisiana arrested Lytonja Barfield, a 58-year-old substitute teacher, for allegedly causing disruptions with false active shooter alerts at five schools. These alerts, which triggered security responses across the district, have led to Barfield being charged with five counts of menacing.
According to an announcement by Sheriff Henry Whitehorn Sr., the investigation began when the Caddo Parish School Board reported possible threats after emergency alerts. School security director Don Gibbs informed investigators that Barfield, using the emergency management system, had made false reports of active shooters.
Upon receiving these alerts, school officials implemented security measures to protect students and staff while verifying the legitimacy of the threats. It was ultimately determined that the threats were not real, and Barfield was identified as responsible for the false alarms.
Caddo Parish Public Schools confirmed to Fox News Digital that Barfield is no longer employed with the district and was not working at any district location when the incidents occurred. The district stated they are cooperating with the sheriff’s investigation and followed established security protocols to ensure safety during the incident.
The sheriff’s office has yet to disclose the names of the schools involved or specific security measures taken. A detective located and questioned Barfield, leading to her arrest and transport to the Caddo Correctional Center based on evidence gathered.
False reports of active threats can have serious consequences, disrupting schools, causing emergency responses, and instilling fear among students, parents, and employees. Authorities have not provided a motive for Barfield’s actions, and the investigation continues.