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Louisiana Teacher Sparks Panic With Fake Shooter Alerts
21 Aug
Summary
- Teacher arrested for allegedly triggering five false active shooter alerts.
- The alerts prompted security responses across multiple schools.
- Authorities investigated the incident, leading to the teacher's arrest.
A substitute teacher in Louisiana was arrested on Wednesday, August 20, 2026, after allegedly triggering false active shooter alerts across five schools. Lytonja Barfield, 58, faces five counts of menacing for her alleged actions.
The Caddo Parish Sheriff's Office initiated an investigation after the Caddo Parish School Board reported the emergency alerts. Officials determined the alerts were fabricated and identified Barfield as the source.
Barfield is no longer employed by the Caddo Parish School District and was not assigned to any school site at the time of the incident. The district is cooperating with the sheriff's office, which stated that false threats disrupt schools and cause fear.
The specific schools targeted and the security measures implemented were not disclosed. Authorities have not revealed a motive for the alleged false alerts.
