Two teenagers arrested for bomb threat at a church

Two teenagers are arrested for making a social media post claiming there was a bomb inside New Vision Church on N. Thompson Lane on Wednesday, April 23, forcing the church to be evacuated. 

Church security quickly identified one of the teenagers shortly after the online post. Murfreesboro Police Department (MPD) officers took the teen to police headquarters to interview him with his parents. During the investigation, police identified a second teenager. Police charged both teens with filing a false report.

Nearly 600 middle school-aged students were attending a weekly youth night and several adult small groups, children, and preschool groups at the church when the threat was made around 6:43 p.m. The church was quickly evacuated. Bomb detection K9s from MPD and Middle Tennessee State University Police searched the building. No explosive device was found.

“MPD takes threats of this nature seriously,” said Public Safety Information Director Larry Flowers. “We want to remind young people that engaging in these acts is not a harmless prank; it’s a criminal offense that has consequences.”

The two teenagers were taken to the Rutherford County Juvenile Detention Center.