Authorities say an FBI alert about threatening social media posts led investigators to suspects in Georgia and California.
CANTON, Ga. — Three people have been charged with conspiracy to commit murder after authorities said they disrupted an alleged plan to carry out a shooting at Cherokee High School in suburban Atlanta, an investigation that began when the FBI identified threatening social media posts.
The suspects include Shane Keith Taylor, 17, of Metter, Georgia; Michael Brandon Terry, 21, of Chatsworth, California; and a juvenile whose identity has not been released. Canton police said the juvenile also faces a charge of disrupting or interfering with the operation of public schools. Authorities have said they found no continuing threat to Cherokee High School or other schools in Cherokee County.
The investigation began after the FBI notified Cherokee County School District Police about threatening posts online. District police contacted the Canton Police Department on Oct. 19, and investigators identified a juvenile in Canton who they said was connected to the threats. The juvenile was arrested Oct. 20. Taylor and Terry were arrested Oct. 23, authorities said.
Taylor was taken into custody in Georgia and booked into the Cherokee County Adult Detention Center. Terry was arrested in California with assistance from the FBI and Los Angeles police and was awaiting transfer to Georgia. Police said firearms, ammunition and electronic devices were collected as evidence during the investigation. Officials have not publicly explained how the three suspects knew one another.
Additional details emerged after arrest warrants became public. According to the warrants, investigators allege the three had agreed to participate in an attack at Cherokee High School and had selected Aug. 20, 2027, as the planned date. The documents also described preparations involving weapons and images or plans of the school. Those allegations have not been proven in court, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless convicted.
A later statement from Cherokee County School District Superintendent Mary Elizabeth Davis clarified one part of the warrants. Although the warrants referred to the suspects acquiring a floor plan of Cherokee High School, Davis said police told her the suspects had publicly available images rather than the school’s protected floor plans. She said the secure floor plans had not been accessed.
The school district said the juvenile suspect had previously attended Cherokee High School. Following the arrests, additional police officers were assigned to the campus and extra counselors were made available for students and staff. District officials said law enforcement coordination and existing security procedures allowed authorities to identify the alleged threat before an attack occurred.
Canton Police Chief Marty Ferrell said protecting students and school employees remained the department’s priority and credited the agencies involved in the investigation. The case included work by Canton police, Cherokee County school police, the FBI and other law enforcement agencies in Georgia and California.
Online court records cited by The Associated Press showed Taylor was being held without bond and had a preliminary hearing scheduled for Nov. 13. A lawyer for Taylor told the AP he had recently received the case and did not offer further comment. It was not immediately clear from the latest available reports whether Terry had obtained an attorney.
The investigation remained active as of Sunday. Police had not announced additional suspects and said there was no known ongoing threat to Cherokee High School or another Cherokee County school. Further evidence and details about the alleged conspiracy could emerge as the criminal cases proceed through court.
Author note: Last updated November 1, 2026.