Substitute teacher arrested for sending bogus active-shooter warnings to five schools

Authorities in Caddo Parish, Louisiana, arrested 58-year-old substitute teacher Lytonja Barfield after she allegedly triggered false active-shooter alerts at five district schools. Sheriff Henry Whitehorn Sr. reported that Barfield was charged with five counts of menacing after a joint inquiry by the sheriff’s office and the Caddo Parish School Board. According to school board security director Don Gibbs, Barfield used the district’s emergency management system to send the bogus warnings, leading staff to enact security protocols across the campuses.

Caddo Parish Public Schools stated Barfield was no longer employed and had no assignment at the time, and they are fully cooperating with the investigation. A sheriff’s detective located and questioned Barfield before she was transferred to Caddo Correctional Center. Officials emphasized that false threat reports can cause panic and divert resources, though no motive has been disclosed.