Crime & Safety
11-Year-Old Boy Threatened Shooting At Middle School: Pinellas Sheriff
An 11-year-old boy was arrested after sending messages about a shooting at Tarpon Middle School, the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office said.
TARPON SPRINGS, FL — An 11-year-old boy was arrested Monday for threatening a shooting at Tarpon Springs Middle School, according to a Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office news release.
He was charged with making written threats to kill or conduct a mass shooting.
Though PCSO named the boy, it’s Patch policy not to name minors accused of a crime unless they’ve been charged as an adult. It’s unknown whether he has been charged as a juvenile or an adult.
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The student was in a group chat with two other students when he sent a photo of himself wearing a ski mask and tactical vest with a message that he was about to go to eighth period.
He also sent a video to the group chat of him holding and pointing what appeared to be a shotgun with the message, “this how we going to light them up like the Fourth of July boys” and other profanities, the sheriff’s office said.
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The boy admitted to detectives that he sent the video, photos and messages and claimed it was a joke.
Anyone with information on any threats is asked to contact PCSO at 727-582-6200.
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