A social media post triggered a police investigation Tuesday after authorities learned of an alleged threat against a Buckeye elementary school. The person accused of making the post was not a student or outsider, but a staff member who had been working at the campus for about two years.
Police arrested Sharde Booker, 21, who works as a paraprofessional at Westpark Elementary School. Investigators say the Instagram post referenced shooting the school and was made shortly before 2 p.m. while Booker was on campus. Detectives identified her as the account holder and later arrested her at her home.
According to the arrest report, Booker acknowledged making the post after being taken into custody. She faces a Class 3 felony charge of interfering with an educational institution and a misdemeanor threat charge. She was released without bond and is scheduled for a Sept. 17 court hearing.
Police notified school officials after Booker’s arrest and determined there was no continuing threat to the campus. The Buckeye Elementary School District said it could not discuss many details because the case involves an employee but emphasized that student and staff safety remains its top priority.
The case highlights the speed with which schools and law enforcement now have to respond to threats made online, even when investigators ultimately determine there is no active danger.
