On February 20th, 2026, a Lee County School Resource Officer received a call from a staff member at Smith Station High School regarding a social media threat about shooting up the school. Shortly after the first report, a second report was received about the threat from a concerned citizen.
SRO’s and Lee County Investigators worked with school officials in identifying the alleged suspect as being a former student. Dontae Deshawn Ford (18) was contacted and taken into custody by investigators at his home, located in the 6000 block of Lee Road 240 in the Phenix City area of Lee County. Investigators did not find any firearms on or around Ford at that time of his arrest.
Ford was never physically on the school campus at any point. Ford admitted to the
threat and was arrested and charged with one (1) count of Making a Terrorist Threat 1st Degree. He is being held in the Lee County Detention Center on a $15,000.00 bond with $2000,00 cash required. He is also not allowed on any school or educational facility property.
Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact the Lee County Sheriff’s Office at 334-749-5651 or Central Alabama Crime Stoppers at 334-215-STOP (7867)
