Carrie Gamblin/Hopkins County Jail mugshot
A woman was arrested and charged with terroristic threatening and other offenses after a lockdown at an elementary school in Hopkins County on Thursday.
According to the Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office, they were notified of a lockdown at Southside Elementary School on Thursday morning. Authorities said the School Resource Officer worked closely with school administrators, quickly assessed the situation, and confirmed there was no immediate threat to students or staff.
Authorities said their investigation found that Carrie Gamblin, a parent of a child at Southside Elementary School, entered the school and made false, alarming statements to office staff. As a result, they said the school was placed on lockdown to ensure the safety of students and staff. Authorities noted that Gamblin’s actions prompted an emergency response from both the Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office and the Madisonville Police Department.
Gamblin was taken into custody and faces charges of second-degree terroristic threatening, falsely reporting an incident that led to an emergency response, and second-degree disorderly conduct. She was booked into the Hopkins County Jail.
Following the lockdown, Hopkins County Schools Superintendent Dr. Damon Fleming released a statement to reassure parents and families that student safety remains the district’s highest priority.
Dr. Fleming explained that as a precaution, both Southside Elementary School and South Hopkins Middle School were placed on lockdown. He emphasized that there were no threats made toward students or staff, and no weapons were involved in the incident. He said the School Resource Officer responded right away, with additional law enforcement arriving promptly to assist, which led to the individual being safely taken into custody for causing an alarm on school grounds.
Dr. Fleming expressed his appreciation to the staff at both schools and to the School Resource Officer for their swift and professional response. He noted that their calm and decisive actions helped keep everyone safe and well-informed during the situation.
Dr. Fleming acknowledged how concerning it can be for parents to learn their child’s school was placed on lockdown, even for a short time. He reassured families that every action taken on Thursday was out of an abundance of caution and guided by their commitment to student safety. He added that the district is proud of how staff handled the situation and remains dedicated to providing a secure and supportive environment for all students.
