Sheriff: 'Outrageous amount of students' involved in vandalism, closure of Spring Hill High

Maury County Sheriff Bucky Rowland said widespread apparent vandalism at Spring Hill High School that led to the Friday cancellation of classes is being investigated, though no arrests have been made.

Rowland said damage was carried out across "the whole school" and involved "an outrageous amount of students."

Maury County Public Schools officials canceled classes Friday after school property was damaged in the apparent vandalism incident, according to an announcement posted at about 5:30 a.m. via social media.

The urgent message said all faculty and staff were scheduled to report to the school at 10 a.m., while all after-school activities are set to occur on time.

"We are working on identifying numerous people involved and are gathering evidence," Rowland said. "We are gathering all of the facts to determine whether a crime was committed or not. Other circumstances determine whether it was a school function that got out of hand or a crime."

Rowland said acts of vandalism included toilet paper strewn about, desks and chairs overturned and liquids spilled all over one of the largest high schools in Maury County.

Among items destroyed include 40 bags of "JetPacks" assembled by The Well volunteers for students who are food insecure, as well as hygiene products collected through a recent drive at the school in partnership with The Well, according to Shelly Sassen, director of The Well Outreach.

"This is a very unusual situation," Rowland said. "It definitely shouldn't have happened; I can tell you that."

According to MCPS Communications Director Jack Cobb, the school has been cleaned.

"The school is ready for students on Monday," Cobb said.

Early Friday, videos of students allegedly destroying and vandalizing school property, including spray painting furniture and throwing toilet paper around the building were posted in the comments section on the schools' original Facebook social media post.

District and local law officials believe the events occurred during the late hours of May 2, they said.

There are no reports of injuries.

"Maury County Public Schools and law enforcement are looking into events that occurred late last night at Spring Hill High School," Cobb said early Friday. "We can confirm that there is damage to school property and vandalism. No one was injured or hurt."

This is a developing story. Check back for more details as they are released.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Sheriff: 'Outrageous amount of students' involved in vandalism, closure of Spring Hill High