Fact check: Bushart meme arrest

1. What happened and why it mattered to Perry County readers

Local law enforcement says Bushart posted memes in a Facebook group connected to a vigil for Charlie Kirk that were interpreted as referencing a possible shooting at Perry County High School, prompting significant concern among teachers, parents, and students that led to an arrest for threatening mass violence at a school ^{[3] [2]}. Reporters emphasize the community alarm created by the posts and the sheriff’s office decision to act, noting that the alleged content quoted President Trump’s response to a separate school shooting and was framed as a hypothetical threat directed at local schools ^[1].

2. Who is Larry Gene Bushart and what do reports say about him

Multiple reports identify the suspect as Larry Gene Bushart, age 61, and describe him as a former police officer in Tennessee; outlets note his background as relevant context for how the community and authorities perceived the alleged threat coming from a former law-enforcement professional ^{[2] [4]}. Coverage uniformly reports his arrest in late September 2025 and the specific charge used by the Perry County Sheriff’s Office—threatening mass violence at a school—without detailing the full charging instrument or subsequent court filings in available summaries ^{[2] [1]}.

3. The content at the center: memes, quotes, and online context

Reporting describes the contested posts as Facebook memes that either quoted a tweet or comment attributed to President Trump or referenced a hypothetical shooting; those posts appeared in a group organizing a Charlie Kirk vigil, which amplified concern because of the event’s local visibility ^{[1] [3]}. Journalistic accounts stress that the form—memes circulated in a public or semi-public online group—and the specific wording led school staff and parents to perceive a credible threat, prompting law-enforcement intervention ^{[1] [4]}.

4. How authorities explained their response and the timeline

The Perry County Sheriff’s Office, represented in reporting by Sheriff Nick Weems or office statements, said deputies investigated the social-media posts after community members reported alarm and concluded the language warranted arrest to prevent potential harm; initial stories were published between September 22 and 24, 2025, reflecting the rapid local response ^{[2] [3]}. Coverage indicates the arrest occurred shortly after the posts circulated and followed complaints from teachers, parents, and students who conveyed fear to officials, prompting an enforcement decision framed as protecting public safety ^[1].

5. Community reactions and the role of school stakeholders

Local reporting highlights heightened anxiety among Perry County teachers, parents, and students who interpreted the meme as a possible threat to Perry County High School, leading them to notify authorities and push for a law-enforcement response; outlets emphasize that community concern was central to the sequence that culminated in arrest ^[1]. Stories characterize the arrest as both a response to community alarm and a preventive action by the sheriff’s office, reflecting local priorities on school safety during periods of perceived risk ^[4].

6. Where accounts align and where gaps remain

All cited pieces agree on the basic facts: the suspect’s identity as Larry Bushart, the Facebook-meme origin of the posts, the community alarm, and the charge of threatening mass violence at a school, published between September 22 and 24, 2025 ^{[2] [3]}. Reporting does not consistently show the full text of the posts, provide court-record citations, or detail whether prosecutors filed additional charges or whether Bushart made public statements; these omitted elements limit the public record available in initial news coverage ^[1].

7. Open questions that reporting has not yet answered

Available articles do not disclose the exact meme phrasing, whether the Facebook group was private or public, whether criminal proceedings beyond the initial charge have been filed, or whether defense counsel has responded—gaps that matter for assessing intent, mens rea, and the legal pathway forward ^{[1] [4]}. Additional official documents—charging instruments, court dockets, or recorded statements from the sheriff’s office and the accused—would provide necessary clarity on what evidence justified the charge and how authorities balanced free-speech considerations with public-safety obligations ^{[1] [2]}.

Conclusion

Reporting from September 22–24, 2025 consistently describes the arrest of former officer Larry Gene Bushart for Facebook memes that local officials said referenced a hypothetical school shooting and alarmed the Perry County community; authorities cited that alarm in charging him with threatening mass violence at a school, while multiple substantive details remain unreported in the initial coverage pending court records and fuller statements ^{[3] [2]}.