Tuscaloosa mother posts Facebook video threatening violence at her child’s school, police say

A Tuscaloosa woman is under arrest after authorities say she posted a Facebook Live video laced with threats of violence at a middle school.

Ebony Sierra Patrick, 32, was charged Friday with first-degree making terroristic threats.

Tuscaloosa police supervisors, the department’s Threat Assessment Team and School Resource Officers were made aware of the video Thursday, shortly after it was posted to social media, said police spokeswoman Stephanie Taylor.

The video included threats of violence toward Northridge Middle School.

According to the video, Patrick said was upset that her 15-year-old daughter, a member of the show choir, was left behind from a school event.

Statements made by Patrick in the video included:

– “When it comes down to my kids, anybody can die. Anybody.”

– “I’m gonna wake that mother (expletive) school up tomorrow”

– “On my mama (expletive) grave, (expletive), you was gonna die. If I had to come to the school and kill you.”

Patrick, in tears, said she knew she would probably be going to jail.

Officers immediately coordinated with Tuscaloosa City Schools officials to ensure increased security at the school Friday morning.

“Our dispatchers and officers received dozens of calls from parents who were worried about sending their children to school today,’’ Chief Brent Blankley. “That should never happen.”

“Threats of any kind, especially those directed at our schools, are completely unacceptable,’’ Blankley said. “They cause fear and alarm, disrupt the learning environment and put our children’s safety at risk.”

The chief said police take all threats seriously.

“We will continue to work to maintain a safe environment for all students, teachers and staff,’’ he said.