Substitute Teacher Arrested for False Active Shooter Alerts in Louisiana

A substitute teacher in Louisiana has been arrested after allegedly triggering false active shooter alerts at five schools. This led to security responses district-wide. Caddo Parish Sheriff Henry Whitehorn Sr. announced the arrest of Lytonja Barfield, 58, who faces five counts of menacing.

The investigation began after the Caddo Parish School Board reported possible threats. Emergency alerts were sent to several schools, prompting the Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office to get involved.

According to the sheriff’s office, Don Gibbs, the school board’s director of security, stated that Barfield used the district’s emergency management system to report the false alerts. Schools reacted by implementing security protocols to protect students and staff.

Once officials confirmed the alerts were unfounded, Barfield was identified as responsible. The Caddo Parish Public Schools confirmed in a statement to Fox News Digital that Barfield is no longer employed with them and was not assigned to any district sites during the incident.

The Sheriff’s Office did not specify which schools were affected or what specific security measures were enacted. A police detective later located Barfield and brought her in for questioning, leading to her arrest. She was taken to Caddo Correctional Center.

The Sheriff’s Office warned that false reports of active threats can disrupt schools, trigger emergency responses, and instill fear among students, parents, and school employees. The investigation continues, but authorities have not disclosed a motive for the actions.

Brittany Miller, a Fox News Digital breaking news writer, provided the report. She is a Syracuse University graduate and former Independent reporter.