The Washington Parish Sheriff's Office reports that at approximately 10:15 a.m. today (Friday, September 25, 2026), two Washington Parish schools were placed on lockdown following a social media post involving a student.
Earlier, it was reported by the WPSO that a post was made on Facebook Friday (September, 2025) morning claiming that an individual armed with a firearm was present at a local school. Following an investigation, it was determined that the threat was a HOAX. As a precaution, area schools were placed on lockdown and once it was determined there was NO credible threat, the lockdowns were lifted. (The Washington Parish School System reported the lockdowns were initiated at Franklinton High and Mt. Hermon schools.)
The investigation further determined that the post was of an older video recording that previously circulated online.
Hayden Stafford (age 18) and Lacey Richard (age 20) were arrested in connection with the social media post that prompted the lockdown. Both Stafford and Richard were charged with Terrorizing.
***All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty***
“Regardless of intention, we respond to any post that could potentially be related to violent acts regarding schools. People need to understand the world is different and even careless jokes have consequences.” - Sheriff Smith
The investigation is ongoing
This coverage is subpar. If you are going to report on something as serious as two schools being placed on lockdown and two people being charged with terrorizing, the story should answer basic questions, not leave readers with more of them.
ReplyDeleteWhich two schools were placed on lockdown? How long were they locked down? What exactly was posted? What was the relationship between the social media post and the older video? What are Hayden Stafford and Lacey Richard actually alleged to have done? Did they create the post, share the video, add threatening language, or simply repost something? How are they connected to one another or to the student mentioned in the opening?
The story also says investigators determined the video was old and unrelated to any Washington Parish school, yet two people were still arrested and charged with terrorizing. That may be completely justified, but the reporting needs to explain why.
This reads more like a lightly edited law enforcement press release than a finished news story. Local readers deserve reporting that provides context and answers. If those answers are not available yet, say that and continue reporting. Otherwise, publishing an incomplete account like this creates confusion instead of informing the public.
Your comments are actually constructive criticism. You are right. The article is subpar. We have edited the article with more information available to us. However, we still do not know exactly long the lockdown was, what was posted, etc. Thank you for commenting.
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