A substitute teacher in Louisiana has been arrested after allegedly setting off false active shooter alerts at five schools. This incident led to district-wide security responses.

Authorities have charged Lytonja Barfield, 58, with five counts of menacing. The investigation began when the Caddo Parish School Board reported possible threats to the Sheriff’s Office following emergency alerts.

Don Gibbs, the director of security for the school board, informed investigators that Barfield, a substitute teacher, used the district’s emergency management system to report active shooters at the schools. This information was confirmed by the sheriff’s office.

In response to the alerts, school officials activated security measures to safeguard students and staff while verifying the authenticity of the threats. The alerts were deemed false, and Barfield was identified as the individual behind them. The sheriff’s office announced this finding.

“We are fully cooperating with the Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office in their investigation. Barfield is no longer employed by the district, and she was not on assignment at any district location during the incident,” said Caddo Parish Public Schools in a statement.

The specific schools involved and the security measures put in place were not disclosed by officials. A detective located and questioned Barfield regarding the matter, leading to her arrest and detention at the Caddo Correctional Center.

The sheriff’s office highlighted that false reports of threats disrupt educational environments, initiate unnecessary emergency responses, and incite fear among students, parents, and staff. No motive for Barfield’s actions has been disclosed, and the investigation is ongoing.