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Sherriff's spokesman Col. John Fortunato says phone threats to burn down the schools were received early this morning. The calls led to lockdowns and the evacuation of one school.
"Upon reviewing the numerous recordings left on Fisher High and Marrero Academy's phone answering systems, our investigators were able to determine a phone number from where the calls originated," Fortunato said.
"Shortly thereafter, our investigators called the phone number and in turn were greeted by a subject who identified himself as Shane Kersey. When questioned relative to the threatening phone calls at the schools, Kersey admitted making the phone calls to four schools this morning, two in Jefferson Parish and two in Plaquemines Parish. When asked for a current location where Kersey was, he told investigators he was at friend's home in Gretna. Detectives proceeded to the Gretna address and located Shane Kersey."
Kersey is a 35-year-old resident of Lafitte, according to police.
Fortuanto says Kersey told investigators, "The foil wrapped around his head secured by a baseball cap was there to prevent microwave signals from entering his head."
Students were permitted to return late Wednesday morning to Marrero Academy for Advanced Studies in Marrero and Fisher Middle-High School in Lafitte.
Authorities say no threatening devices were found at the schools.
Fortunato went on to say, "After being transported to the JPSO CIB, Kersey, once again admitted making the phone calls to the schools...Kersey also stated he overheard a conversation at a bus stop in Lafitte that there was going to be some fights between students and that unknown persons were bringing combustible materials to school. At no time, did Shane Kersey contact any law enforcement agency to report this information."
According to police, Shane Kersey has a very extensive prior criminal history with multiple arrests for Possession of Narcotics, Simple Burglary, Aggravated Battery, Criminal Trespassing, Theft, Illegal Possession of a Weapon, along with numerous traffic related offenses.
Kersey was booked into the JPCC with two counts of Terrorizing, along with being a fugitive from Plaquemines Parish on a simple burglary warrant.
