Snapchat Gun Selfie Leads To 3 Arrests

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — Three teenage boys face criminal charges after a selfie of a student posing with a gun inside a Lakewood High School bathroom was brought to the attention of authorities. That gun, St. Petersburg Police say, turned out to have been stolen during a December residential burglary.

The case against the teens began to unfold shortly after 2 p.m. Jan. 10 when the school's resource officer was made aware of a Snapchat photo of a 15-year-old boy posing with a gun in the school’s bathroom. The officer detained the boy “and soon learned another student was also taking selfies with the weapon,” an email from the agency said.

The second student, a 17-year-old boy, had left the campus by the time the officer learned of his potential involvement.

“Investigators did a sweep of the school with a gun-sniffing K9, including the area where the boys took the photos, and did not locate the gun,” the email said.

Officers, however, went to the 17-year-old’s home and did find the gun, the email added.

Both students were charged with possessing a weapon on campus, the agency said.

A third arrest in the case was announced early Wednesday morning. Police say the third teen, a 16-year-old boy, was charged with armed burglary and violation of probation.

After it was learned the gun had been stolen, authorities also charged the 17-year-old with burglary of a dwelling, grand theft and possession of marijuana.

The teens also face disciplinary actions, up to expulsion, at school, the agency noted.

Patch is not releasing the names of the teens due to their ages.

No further information is available at this time.

Image via Shutterstock