Threats Against Pasco Schools On The Rise: Sheriff

WESLEY CHAPEL, FL — As the school year enters its final stretch, the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office says threats against campuses are on the rise. Three separate incidents have been reported over the course of five school days. While arrests were made in two of the cases, a third remains under investigation with an enhanced law enforcement presence now assigned to that school.

The sheriff’s office said the “recent rash of threats” began last week when two students at John Long Middle School in Wesley Chapel were accused of trying to recruit fellow students to help them “shoot up the school.” That incident was investigated and resulted in the arrest of the two teens, who are not being identified.

The second threat resulted in a Thursday, May 11 arrest at Ridgewood High School in New Port Richey. There a teenage boy reportedly posted online that he was going to shoot up the school, the sheriff’s office wrote in an email to media.

Detectives are also actively investigating threats made against R.B. Stewart Middle School in Zephyrhills. According to the agency, deputies were tipped off about rumors circulating on social media that two students were “planning violence” against the school. Detectives reportedly worked through the night May 10 to identify the source and subjects of the rumors. Those teens were being interviewed by authorities Thursday morning. No charges have been announced in that case.

As the investigation into the threats against R.B. Stewart continues, the sheriff’s office has enhanced its presence on the school’s campus, the agency reported. The move was made “out of an abundance of caution.”

Further information is not yet available, including the charges the three teens arrested face. The sheriff’s office and school district plan to release more information during a Thursday afternoon media conference.

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