FL School Threats Reported Across State After GA Shooting

FLORIDA — In the wake of a Sept. 4 Georgia school shooting, in which a 14-year-old fatally shot two students and two teachers, and wounded nine others, a flurry of school threats have been reported in districts across Florida.

Earlier this week, on Monday, two 14-year-old boys were charged with written or electronic threats to kill, do bodily injury or conduct a mass shooting or an act of terrorism after making a threat against North Port High School. One of the students was also charged with unlawful use of a two-way communications device, North Port police said.

In Manatee County, a Bayshore High School student was arrested Thursday around 11 p.m. for posting a threat that named King, Lee and Sugg Middle schools, Manatee County Schools said in a news release. The student told investigators that the threats were a joke.

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The 15-year-old boy made the threats via Snapchat, according to the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office.

In Hillsborough County, Newsome High School was in a lockout for several hours after a school threat was received.

The threat against the Lithia school, which was posted on Fortify Florida, claimed that a teacher would be shot and that a bomb was being brought to campus, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office said. After a search, no weapon or credible threat was found.

Pasco County Schools saw several threats made over the past week. A student was arrested Wednesday for written threats to kill and unlawful use of a two-way communication device in connection to social media threats against Wiregrass Ranch High School, according to the Pasco Sheriff’s Office.

New River Elementary School was briefly placed on controlled campus Thursday after people on campus heard loud noises that sounded like a gun. Two men were shooting at cans in the woods behind the school, the sheriff’s office said.

Meanwhile, Gulf Middle School and Sunlake High School were placed on controlled campus status Friday after reports of a possible weapon on campus, deputies said. Investigators determined there were no threats at either school.

Threats were also recently made at schools in Seminole, Broward, Duval, Madison, Leon, Taylor, Levy and Columbia counties, the Florida Phoenix said.

"The turmoil and trauma experienced … by these students, staff, and parents is unimaginable, and no community should ever have to endure such fear and uncertainty," Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister said.