VIDALIA, La. – A man from Vidalia, Louisiana was sentenced on Tuesday for making threats of a potential mass shooting at a school in Mississippi. Kenneth Allen Moody, 33, originally from Hot Springs, Arkansas, was sentenced to 18 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release by Judge Dee D. Drell.
He was charged with interstate communication of a threat after contacting the Vidalia Police Department in July 2022 and claiming he was planning a mass shooting at Natchez High School. Moody admitted to making the call and acknowledged that it would be viewed as a threat.
Investigators from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Vidalia Police Department looked into the case, with assistance from Assistant United States Attorney Tennille M. Gilreath. Moody’s claim had caused significant concern, prompting a swift response from law enforcement to address the potential threat.
Moody’s sentencing serves as a reminder of the serious consequences of making threats of violence, particularly in the current climate of heightened awareness around school safety. It also underscores the importance of swift and thorough investigation by law enforcement to address potential threats and ensure the safety of the community.
In the end, Kenneth Allen Moody’s 18-month prison sentence and three years of supervised release highlight the seriousness with which law enforcement and the justice system take threats of violence, particularly those targeting schools or large groups of people. Such threats are taken seriously and swiftly addressed to ensure the safety and security of the public.