Felony Charges for St. Pete High Student Accused of Making Threats

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — A 14-year-old St. Petersburg boy faces felony charges after police say he threatened to shoot other students at his school.

According to the St. Petersburg Police Department, the boy told another student he planned to shoot anyone who wasn’t wearing red at St. Petersburg High School on Friday, Oct. 7.

“Students spread the rumor through texts, Twitter, Snap Chat and other social media this week,” police wrote in an email to media. “Several concerned students and parents alerted the school resource officer and the administration.”

An investigation in to the threat was launched and police say they identified the 14-year-old as the source. The teen, who Patch is not identifying because of his age, was charged with a second-degree felony for making a false report concerning the use of a firearm in a violent manner.

Police say the boy was arrested Thursday, Oct. 6. He reportedly told investigators, “he was not serious and meant it all as a joke.”

The threat, police said, is not in any way connected to the recent rash of clown sightings and postings. Earlier in the week, a 12-year-old Pasco County boy was charged with a felony after allegedly making clown threats at his middle school.

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