Suspect arrested in bomb threat that prompted lockdown at Gainesville High School, police say

Share Add Us On Google Add as a preferred source on Google ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) — Police said they have arrested a suspect who allegedly called in a bomb threat that put Gainesville High School on lockdown Thursday. Hall County 911 received a call saying there was a bomb located at the school, according to Capt. Kevin Holbrook with the Gainesville Police Department. Police immediately responded to the campus to investigate the threat and make sure students and staff were safe as the school went on lockdown. Officers did not find explosives. Gainesville police contacted their state and federal law enforcement partners to see whether the threat was AI-generated, like other recent threats seen across the country, Holbrook said. Investigators determined that the threat was most likely not AI-generated, and that it appeared to come from a local caller. Police identified a suspect, 58-year-old Carlos Arevalo, and arrested him at a home in Flowery Branch, with assistance from the FBI and the Hall County Sheriff’s Office, Holbrook said. He said authorities found Arevalo on the rear deck of the home, with “a firearm in his possession.” Negotiators persuaded him to come out the front door of the home and officers took him into custody, Holbrook said. Regarding motivation, Holbrook said it’s believed that Arevalo “possibly had issues with the government,” and “was trying to seek attention” to get a law enforcement response. He’s not believed to have any connection with Gainesville High School. Holbrook said Arevalo previously faced charges in Hall County. Investigators reviewed video footage related to that previous case and compared them with the 911 call Thursday to identify Arevalo as the suspect in the bomb threat. Police have not specified the charges against him. This is at least the third incident this week of threats being made to schools in metro Atlanta. The most recent incident happened yesterday . Police in Atlanta briefly locked down North Atlanta High School and Midtown High School. This is a developing story. Check back with Atlanta News First for updates. Copyright 2026 WANF. All rights reserved.