Florida Teen Arrested After Posting Video Of Gun In Classroom

HOLLYWOOD, FL — A Florida teen was taken into custody Wednesday after he allegedly posted a "threatening" video that showed someone pointing a handgun into a classroom full of students on the eve of the first day back to school for some 271,500 students in Broward County, the same school district where a lone gunman killed 17 students and faculty members at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in February of 2018.

"The video shows a person pulling out a gun in a school classroom and appears to point it toward unsuspecting students," said Miranda Grossman of the Hollywood Police Department. See also 2 Men With BB Guns Mistaken For Possible School Shooters

The 16-year-old was identified as a former McArthur High School student, who was expelled last year after bringing ammunition into school, according to Grossman. Patch is withholding the teen's name because of his age.

Editor's note: The following video was released by the Hollywood Police Department. It contains written profanity and disturbing images:

Grossman said multiple people reported seeing the video and a photo with a caption asking whether or not to “carry my pistol with me like last year.”

She said the video may have been filmed last year, but it was posted to the teen's social media account on Tuesday, Aug. 13.

“This arrest is a testament to our vigilant efforts to keep our schools safe and the community’s ‘see something, say something’ mentality," added Hollywood Police Chief Chris O’Brien. "Our department is committed to keeping our schools safe for our kids, parents and staff, not only on the first day of school, but all year round. Because of the courage of citizens to call the police, along with our proactive policing enforcement of the MSDHS Public Safety Act, we were able to take him into custody and stop a potentially dangerous situation.”

Grossman said police learned of the post Tuesday night and conducted an investigation with assistance from the Hollywood Police School Resource Officer.

The teenager was taken into custody at his home and charged with electronic threat to kill, which is a felony in Florida. A family member was also taken into custody for obstructing the investigation, according to Grossman.