Updated April 20, 2026, at 9:58 a.m.
CULLMAN, Ala. – Cullman County Schools Superintendent Dr. Shane Barnette on Monday morning said an alleged incident that has circulated publicly through social media screenshots is the subject of an active criminal investigation being led by the Cullman County Sheriff’s Office.
The incident involves the alleged abuse of one student by a group of other students. Barnette said the alleged victim is not a Cullman County Schools student, though the boys accused are students in the system. He also said the alleged incident did not happen at school and, to his knowledge, was not connected to any school activity or event.
“This situation is terrible,” Barnette said. “I don’t know all the facts about the situation, but I do know that it is an active criminal investigation led by the sheriff’s department. I don’t believe that anyone should be afraid to send their children to school because none of this happened at school or was associated with school activities. Whoever did this should and I believe will be held accountable. While I understand that the alleged victim is not one of our students and the other boys who were accused are our students, none of this was related to school activities or events, to my knowledge. We are cooperating with the investigation in any way that we can.”
Barnette’s statement confirms that law enforcement is actively investigating the matter and that Cullman County Schools students are among those accused, while also drawing a distinction between the alleged conduct and any school-sponsored event or campus activity.
The Cullman Tribune has reviewed a cropped screenshot that has been widely shared on social media and emailed to the newsroom. However, The Tribune has not independently verified the full origin of the image or all of the allegations contained in the circulating post.
The Cullman County Sheriff’s Office was contacted last Friday with a list of questions regarding the matter. Those questions were sent again this morning.
As of publication, The Tribune has not received a response from Sheriff Matt Gentry.
CCSO Director of Communications Chad Whaley said, “I know we have been actively investigating the incident since it was reported and continue to do so as we speak. Juvenile laws do hamper what can be released, but we are in process.”
Because the case involves juveniles and an active criminal investigation, many details have not been publicly confirmed by law enforcement.
For now, Barnette said the school system is cooperating with investigators as the case moves forward.
