Authorities say two minors from Habersham County are responsible for a bomb threat that forced the evacuation of the Clayton Walmart. Complaints were filed against both juveniles, says Rabun County Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Scott Cheek, which means they will have to appear before a juvenile court judge.
“I haven’t had a chance to speak with the judge to see what kind of punishment this could hold,” Cheek tells Now Habersham, “however, with today’s climate, I don’t see this issue being taken lightly.”
The threat was phoned in to the store at 1455 US 441 around 7:10 p.m. on Sunday, November 20. Two days later, the Rabun County Sheriff’s Office announced on its Facebook page they had identified the suspects.
The sheriff’s office did not release any other details about the two minors and says, “Due to their age, officials are not releasing their names.”
Chief Deputy Cheek indicated the minors may have acted on some sort of a “challenge.”
“All across the nation, we are seeing ‘trends’ or ‘challenges’ that younger kids and adults are taking a part of,” he says. “In some cases, I don’t think they realize what they are actually doing and how they could affect someone’s life until it’s too late. I think we saw this not too long ago with the incident that took place in White County.”
In that incident, two juveniles were accused of seriously injuring a fellow student in a Tik Tok challenge. Cheek says young people need to be aware that their actions have consequences.
“I would tell kids the same thing I tell my own kids, ‘Take a minute and think before you do. Think about how your actions could affect someone else.'”
In the case of the bomb threat, it spurred a heavy emergency response.
“Our deputies, along with law enforcement from [the] Clayton Police Department, Rabun County Fire, and Rabun County Search and Rescue all responded and quickly secured the scene,” says chief deputy Scott Cheek of the Rabun County Sheriff’s Office.
Cheek says Walmart employees helped evacuate the store and the Hall and Dawson County sheriff’s offices sent explosives-detecting K9s to sweep the premises.
“Both of their agencies responded and conducted a K9 search, which didn’t result in any explosive material being found,” Cheek tells Now Habersham.
At 9:45 p.m., law enforcement gave the all-clear and turned the store back over to Walmart management.
Shoppers who posted about the incident on social media reported feeling frightened and frustrated.
“I had a buggy full and was evacuated……scared me to death,” wrote Cassidy Lovell Hughes of Mt. Airy.
Laney Jones of Clayton said she was blocked from getting her car because “They ain’t letting people into the parking lot.”
Haley O’Kelley, also of Clayton, said, “I was in there with my baby when they told us to evacuate. honestly sad people are like this! ”
Cheek praised Walmart workers for their cooperation and help, saying they were of “great assistance” during the incident. He also publicly thanked Hall County Sheriff Gerald Couch and Dawson County Sheriff Jeff Johnson for their agencies’ help.
