Bullied Florida Teen Threatened Mass Shooting At School: Cops

BRADENTON, FL -- A 15-year-old boy, who allegedly posted a note in a Bayshore High School restroom saying he had been bullied and planned to stage a mass shooting at the school, was taken into custody Thursday by Manatee County sheriff's deputies.

"The note implied that because of bullying, the suspect was going to shoot people at the school," the sheriff's office said.

The note was found by another student, who alerted school officials. The student who allegedly posted the note was not identified.

He was charged with making a written threat of a mass shooting. The sheriff's office said the incident occurred around 7:50 a.m.

"During the investigation, the suspect admitted to detectives that he wrote the note," said a spokesperson for the sheriff's office. "A search of his residence found no guns."

The school was placed on lockdown for about two hours until 10 a.m., according to spokesperson Michael Barber of the School District of Manatee County.

Once the lockdown was lifted, school officials notified Bayshore Parents of the incident via a phone message.

"Unfortunately, school threats have become far too common, not only in Manatee County, but around America," the message stated. "Please remind your students that anyone who makes a threat will be subject to serious criminal charges and school district discipline. We are now focusing all of our efforts on having a productive school day."

School officials noted that the district operates anti-bullying programs and campaigns for all schools and offers direct help through a clickable button on the mobile app -- MySDMC -- to report bullying" anonymously.

The student who found the note brought it the guardian at Bayshore High School, according to the sheriff's office.