Three suspects were arrested in Georgia and California as investigators seized firearms, ammunition and electronic devices, authorities said.
CANTON, Ga. — Three people have been arrested in connection with an alleged conspiracy to carry out a shooting at Cherokee High School after the FBI identified threatening social media posts and alerted local school police, authorities said.
The investigation began Oct. 19 when Cherokee County School District police contacted the Canton Police Department after receiving information from the FBI. Canton detectives soon identified a juvenile from Canton whom investigators connected to the threats. The juvenile was arrested Oct. 20 and charged with conspiracy to commit murder and disruption or interference with the operation of public schools. Authorities have withheld the juvenile’s name because of the suspect’s age.
The investigation then expanded to two other suspects in different parts of the country. Shane Keith Taylor, 17, of Metter, Georgia, was arrested Oct. 23 with assistance from federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. Police said Taylor was charged with conspiracy to commit murder and taken to the Cherokee County Adult Detention Center.
Michael Brandon Terry, 21, of Chatsworth, California, was arrested the same day in California by the FBI and the Los Angeles Police Department. Canton police said Terry also faces a charge of conspiracy to commit murder and was awaiting extradition to Cherokee County. Authorities have not publicly described the individual roles they allege Taylor, Terry and the unidentified juvenile played in the suspected plot.
Police said investigators collected firearms, ammunition and electronic devices as evidence during the investigation. Officials have not disclosed the number or types of firearms seized, who owned them or what information investigators may have obtained from the electronic devices. The investigation remains active, and the allegations against the suspects have not been proven in court.
Cherokee County School Superintendent Mary Elizabeth Davis said the unidentified juvenile is a former Cherokee High School student. District officials briefed faculty and staff at Cherokee High School and a neighboring middle school after the arrests became public. The district also added police officers at the high school and arranged for additional counselors to support students and employees.
The case illustrates how the investigation moved from online activity to arrests in multiple states within several days. The FBI’s initial identification of threatening posts was passed to school district police, which brought Canton detectives into the investigation. Authorities then coordinated with agencies in Georgia and California as they located the additional suspects and gathered evidence.
Canton Police Chief Marty Ferrell said student and staff safety is a top priority and thanked the agencies involved for acting quickly. The investigation included assistance from federal, state and local authorities, while the Cherokee County District Attorney’s Office was also involved in the case.
Authorities said they have identified no known ongoing threat to Cherokee High School or any other Cherokee County school. Police have not publicly explained how the three suspects allegedly came into contact with one another or how far the suspected planning had progressed. The investigation remains open as Terry awaits transfer to Georgia and investigators continue reviewing the evidence.
Author note: Last updated October 28, 2026.