2 Teens Threatened Tampa School, Teacher: Hillsborough County Sheriff

TAMPA, FL — Two teens were arrested for making threats against a Tampa high school and a teacher there, according to a Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office news release.

A 14-year-old boy sent text messages to a King High School teacher making “multiple threats to kill and inflict bodily harm” on them, according to a tip received by HCSO’s School Threat Assessment and Response (STAR) team on Sept. 25 around 8:30 p.m.

At the same time, the STAR team received another tip that a 13-year-old boy sent an electronic threat to conduct a mass shooting or act of terrorism at the school. The threat was also texted to the same teacher, the sheriff’s office said.

Detectives learned that both teen’s got the teacher’s phone number from a third student at the school.

The threats were made following disciplinary action taken by the teacher against the third student, according to HCSO.

Both teens each face one count of written or electronic threat to conduct a mass shooting or act of terrorism and one count of unlawful use of a two way communications device.

Though the sheriff’s office named both teenagers charged, it’s Patch policy not to name minors who are charged as juveniles. It’s not sure whether they were charged as juveniles or adults.

"This type of behavior will never be tolerated and will lead to several real consequences,"
Sheriff Chad Chronister said. "I urge parents to talk to their children about the gravity of these actions. We will continue to pursue those who threaten the well-being of our students and teachers."

The student who provided the teacher's phone number to the other teens is under investigation for potential charges.