Memphis father jailed after alleged threat to shoot Guthrie Elementary amid bullying dispute, police reports say

What police say happened

A Memphis man was arrested and jailed after police said he threatened to “shoot up the school” during a confrontation outside Guthrie Elementary School on Chelsea Avenue. The incident unfolded after school earlier in the week and involved an argument between the man and two juveniles, according to police accounts included in the arrest documentation.

Investigators said a school administrator and the two juveniles provided statements describing a dispute that escalated into threats. Police said the man allegedly poured water on one of the juveniles and issued a warning interpreted as a threat about returning to school the next day.

Alleged threats and criminal charges

Police said the school’s vice principal reported that the man threatened to commit mass violence at the campus. Officers took him into custody. Police also said he admitted being angry about what he described as bullying involving his daughter and acknowledged telling the vice principal he would shoot up the school if the bullying did not stop.

The man was booked into jail with bond set at $75,000. Police said he also faces an assault charge tied to the confrontation with the juveniles.

How schools and law enforcement typically respond to threats

In recent years, law enforcement agencies across the United States have treated threats involving schools as urgent public-safety matters even when no weapon is displayed at the time of the incident. Police responses commonly focus on quickly identifying the individual who made the threat, assessing immediacy and capability, and coordinating with school officials on safety steps for students and staff.

Threat cases can proceed through the criminal justice system even when a suspect later characterizes the statements as anger-driven or conditional. Investigations typically center on what was communicated, to whom it was communicated, and whether the statements caused disruption or fear at the school.

What remains unknown

• Police have not publicly detailed whether any weapons were recovered or alleged to be involved.
• Authorities have not released additional information about the ages of the juveniles or the nature of the alleged bullying.
• Court records were not included in the initial police summary describing the allegations, and a plea or defense response was not publicly available at the time of reporting.

Like all defendants, the man is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.

Next steps

The case is expected to proceed through the Shelby County court system, where prosecutors will determine how to pursue the allegations and defense counsel may challenge the accusations, the interpretation of statements, or the underlying facts of the incident.