PARSONS, Tenn. — The Parsons Police Department has arrested a local man accused of making threats of mass violence involving an elementary school.

According to an official release, Paul Jones was taken into custody on October 11, 2025, after a reliable witness reported that Jones made alarming statements suggesting potential harm toward a school.

During the incident, Jones allegedly said, “I don’t know what I have to do to make you guys take me seriously — I guess I will just have to take a gun to the elementary school.”

Jones has been charged under Tennessee Code Annotated §39-16-517, which prohibits threats of mass violence on school property. The law makes it a criminal offense to make verbal, written, or electronic threats directed at schools, their staff, or students.

Police emphasized that such threats are taken extremely seriously due to the fear and disruption they cause within the community and educational environment.

The department also reminded the public that anyone who hears or witnesses threats of violence toward a school or public place has both a legal and moral duty to report it immediately.

Authorities credited the Decatur County Sheriff’s Department for assisting in the investigation and arrest, calling their support “instrumental in bringing the matter to a safe resolution.”

The Parsons Police Department reaffirmed its commitment to protecting local schools and ensuring the safety of all citizens.

“Swift reporting and cooperation between agencies make all the difference when it comes to keeping our community safe,” the department said in its statement.