A Louisiana substitute teacher was arrested after authorities said she triggered false active shooter alerts at five schools in Caddo Parish. Lytonja Barfield, 58, was booked on five counts of menacing following an investigation announced Wednesday. The alerts prompted school officials to activate security procedures while authorities worked to determine whether the reported threats were real. Officials later identified the alerts as false, and the school district said Barfield was no longer employed and was not assigned to any district location when the incident occurred.
The investigation remains ongoing, and authorities have not disclosed a possible motive or identified the five schools.
| 1) | Arrest follows investigation into school alerts |
| 2) | Emergency system allegedly used to report active shooters |
| 3) | School district activates established security protocols |
| 4) | Authorities describe disruption caused by false reports |
| 5) | Investigation continues as motive remains undisclosed |
Arrest follows investigation into school alerts
The Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office began investigating after the Caddo Parish School Board reported possible threats linked to emergency alerts at several schools. Sheriff Henry Whitehorn Sr. announced that Barfield was arrested and booked at the Caddo Correctional Center on five counts of menacing.
According to investigators, the case developed after multiple alerts were sent across the Louisiana district. A sheriff’s office detective later located and questioned Barfield. Authorities said evidence and information gathered during that inquiry led to the arrest.
Emergency system allegedly used to report active shooters
Don Gibbs, the school board’s director of security, told investigators that Barfield allegedly used the district’s emergency management system to report active shooters at five schools. The reports were treated as potential threats until officials could assess their credibility.
The alerts were sent through a system designed to communicate urgent safety information. Because the reports concerned active shooters, school personnel and law enforcement had to respond while determining what had happened and whether students or employees faced immediate danger.
School district activates established security protocols
School officials responded to the mobile alerts by implementing security measures intended to protect students and staff at the affected locations. The district said it followed its established protocols while officials evaluated the reports.
Caddo Parish Public Schools said Barfield was no longer employed by the district and was not assigned to work at any district site at the time of the incident. The district also said it was cooperating fully with the sheriff’s investigation and declined to discuss details being handled by law enforcement.
“In response to the mobile alerts, the district followed our established security protocols to ensure student and staff safety at all locations.”
Authorities describe disruption caused by false reports
The sheriff’s office said false reports of active threats can disrupt school operations, trigger emergency responses and create fear among students, parents, school employees and nearby residents. Such reports require officials to treat the information seriously until it can be verified.
Authorities did not disclose which five schools received the alerts or specify the individual security actions taken at each location. No information about injuries was provided in the announcement.
Investigation continues as motive remains undisclosed
Barfield faces five menacing counts in connection with the alleged alerts. The arrest followed questioning and an evidence review, but authorities have not announced a possible motive.
The investigation remains active. Additional details about the alerts, the affected schools and any potential further action had not been released in the available information.
| Number | Key Point |
|---|---|
| 1 | Lytonja Barfield, 58, was arrested in Louisiana. |
| 2 | Authorities allege that false active shooter alerts were sent to five Caddo Parish schools. |
| 3 | She was booked on five counts of menacing. |
| 4 | The school district said it activated established security protocols. |
| 5 | Authorities have not disclosed a motive, and the investigation continues. |
Summary
A substitute teacher was arrested after allegedly using a school district emergency system to send false active shooter alerts to five schools in Caddo Parish. The reports led officials to activate safety procedures and investigate the source. Barfield faces five menacing counts, while authorities continue examining the incident and have not disclosed a motive.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was arrested?
Lytonja Barfield, 58, a substitute teacher, was arrested and booked at the Caddo Correctional Center.
What charges does she face?
Authorities booked Barfield on five counts of menacing, one count connected to each alleged false alert.
How did schools respond?
School officials implemented established security protocols to protect students and staff while they assessed whether the reported threats were legitimate.
Is the investigation finished?
No. The sheriff’s office said the investigation remains ongoing, and authorities have not disclosed a possible motive or identified the five schools.