Girl, 16, Threatened School Shooting: Tampa Police

TAMPA, FL — A teenage girl was arrested March 24 for threatening a school shooting, according to a Tampa Police Department news release.

The 16-year-old was arrested around 11 p.m. after she posted on a social media platform earlier that day, “That’s it, I’m shooting my school up.”

Though TPD named the teen, it’s Patch policy not to name minors accused of a crime unless they’ve been charged as an adult. It’s unknown whether she has been charged as a juvenile or an adult.

The Plant High School student admitted to the post and told detectives that she was upset over a dispute with a friend, police said.

She was charged with one felony count of written or electronic threat to conduct a mass shooting or act of terrorism.

"Anyone who thinks making a ‘joke’ about shooting up a school is harmless is gravely mistaken," Chief Lee Bercaw said. "We take the safety of our students and staff extremely seriously. I want to thank the community for promptly reporting threats and working with our dedicated officers and detectives to help keep our children safe."

Anyone with information about any school-based threats is asked to notify the Tampa Police Department by calling 911 or the non-emergency line at 813-231-6130 or submitting a tip via Fortify FL.