From The Trussville Tribune Staff Reports
TRUSSVILLE – The Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives along with the Trussville Police Department and Crime Stoppers are offering a reward leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for placing a suspected explosive device at Magnolia Elementary School on Wednesday.
A suspected explosive device was recovered at the school after the Trussville Police and Fire Departments, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office bomb squad, ATF and FBI responded to the scene. The bomb squad secured the scene and rendered the suspected device safe.
Friday morning, Trussville police dispatch received a call of a black male wearing black gloves and dressed in all black clothing in the wooded area near Magnolia Elementary.
Captain Jeff Bridges sent additional officers to the school and contacted Trussville schools and told superintendent Pattie Neill to place Magnolia Elementary School on lockdown while officers searched the woods.
But Neill said the school did not go on lockdown. Principal Autumn Jeter removed two classes from the playground. Neill said the officers searched the woods and there was no evidence of any suspicious activity.
The investigation is ongoing with aforementioned parties along with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency and State Fire Marshal’s Office. A license plate reader was installed in front of the school on Thursday, which will take 24/7 surveillance footage of every vehicle coming and going from the premises.
ATF is offering a $2,500 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction of those responsible for the incident. Anyone with information should contact ATF at 888-ATF-BOMB or you can submit information through www.reportit.com by using the Nashville Field Division as the location. Tips can also be called in to Crime Stoppers at 254-7777.
40 Comments
LaShanda Baker
DeAndra Price
Michelle Patton
Tiffany Elizabeth Cantrell
Mary Goodson Pair
Thank you for being on top of this ! Seems to be the only source for us parents to get alerts about our children
Kenneth Mcintyre
Wow ! It ain’t safe there anymore. Bombs , people hiding in the woods, damn ! What’s happening to trussville ?
Erin Griffin Georgia
Anyone know when the next BOE meeting is? I think concerned parents should attend and voice our concerns in the break down in communication.
Anne Snider Steward
Dumb, they shouldnt have told about the license plate reader…
The Trussville Tribune
Next meeting is Monday at 6
Erin Griffin Georgia
Thanks, I will definitely be there and I hope other parents will join me.
Patty Eatherton
Is there any surveillance footage from Wednesday? 911 caller said Hispanic male put the explosive device on the hood of the car. That’s not much to go on in seeking the public’s help.
Gina Renda
Ruwena Healy
They want the public to know so wrong doers stay away.
Anne Snider Steward
The wrongdoer wont be caught now.
Erin Griffin Georgia
How are you getting these emails?
Pedro Ruiz
Well we went from rapist,killers and drug dealers to now terrorist
Gina Renda
Erin Griffin Georgia parents sign up to receive emails from the schools.
The Trussville Tribune
The story has been updated.
Erin Griffin Georgia
I just signed up again. Maybe that will fix it
Laura Hathcock Gibbs
Come on Pedro. .. you know it’s not “we” . People know your not crazy hahah
Laura Hathcock Gibbs
You need to change the heading on story. Still shows we had lockdown
Patty Eatherton
Pedro Ruiz you got that from my comment? Sorry but that’s the description. No different if the person had been white, black, Asian or purple. I would have asked the same question.
Pedro Ruiz
Patty no it wasn’t for your comment it was for some other people who made some remarks
Rhnea Nichols Thomas
Does the school have any surveillance cameras outside the school grounds. If they don’t, they need to invest in them and mount them on the outside of the building and on poles in the parking lot.
Rhnea Nichols Thomas
My husband does a lot of schools here and memphis,tn….it’s money well spent to protect the children.
Jody Blake McCluskey
I know stuff happens everywhere but I would take my child out of there for a little bit if it was me. That’s twice in 2 days something happened. Schools need to do better about security. I would make it wear you had to have a card just to get on the property and get buzzed in from a camera in the front office.
DeAndra Price
Right!!!!
DeAndra Price
Most def I will be present!
Carolyn Reid Crittenden
Are there any security cameras?
DeAndra Price
I’m not exactly sure what the “license plate scanner” is going to do. Many ways I’m sure a insane individual knows how to bypass that.
DeAndra Price
It made national news how can a parent not worry. I know our police and atf are doing every thing they can but I feel we could be at least told “something”. Bc I’ve heard many different stories.
Kim Hagood
I’m with y’all!
Christy Fellows Sherbrook
Good grief why did they not let folks know of the next meeting date and time? Geez
Christy Fellows Sherbrook
James F Sherbrook Jr
Shelley Luna
Does this school not have a school resource officer on campus? Put one there with a police car out front!
DeAndra Price
Yes they do. Very nice good officers at each but one sometimes isn’t enough.
Ann Benson-Richardson McCutcheon
I have seen this question asked several times, but there has been no reply. Does anyone know if the school has security cameras? If not, this should be looked into for parking lot, entire school and the playground,
Carolyn Reid Crittenden
Ann Benson-Richardson McCutcheon , I agree
Cindy Eades Galbreath
Rhiannon Weaver
Shannon Miller
Just curious why this story is not being updated ?
The Trussville Tribune
There is no additional information at this time.
Shannon Miller
they have raised the reward money to 7500.00