A substitute teacher in Louisiana was arrested on Wednesday after authorities say she triggered false active-shooter alerts at five schools, prompting widespread security responses across the district.
Lytonja Barfield, 58, was booked on five counts of menacing following an investigation by the Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office, Sheriff Henry Whitehorn Sr. announced. The alerts were sent through the district’s emergency management system, leading school officials to implement heightened security measures while assessing the legitimacy of the threats.
Officials determined the alerts were false and identified Barfield as the source. The Caddo Parish Public Schools confirmed she is no longer employed by the district and was not assigned to work at any school at the time of the incident.
The district stated it is cooperating fully with law enforcement, though it declined to comment on specific details of the investigation. The sheriff’s office did not provide further information about Barfield’s alleged motives.
School security director Don Gibbs told investigators that Barfield had allegedly used the district’s emergency system to report active shooters at multiple schools, according to the sheriff’s office. The alerts triggered immediate responses, including lockdowns and emergency protocols, as officials worked to verify the threats.
Barfield’s arrest follows a growing national focus on school safety and emergency response protocols. The incident raises questions about the potential misuse of emergency alert systems and the consequences of false threats in educational settings.
The Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office continues its investigation, and no further updates have been provided.