BY: 24/7 CRIME DESK | BocaNewsNow.com
BROWARD COUNTY, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) (Copyright © 2024 MetroDesk Media, LLC) — At least two students are in custody and investigations are underway regarding school shooting threats posted to social media. Both incidents occurred in Broward County just days into the 2024-25 school year. The Broward Sheriff’s Office shared this report with BocaNewsNow.com:
[OFFICIAL ADVISORY:] It’s the first week of school, and detectives with the Broward Sheriff’s Office Threat Management Unit (TMU) have already arrested two students for making two separate threats against Broward County Public Schools (BCPS). Detectives are also investigating two additional threats against other Broward County schools that may lead to more arrests.
“None of this stuff is a joking or laughing matter,” Broward County Sheriff Dr. Gregory Tony said. “If you threaten…on social media or anywhere else, we are going to track you down and arrest you.”
On Saturday, Aug. 10, TMU investigators received a tip from the FBI regarding a post made by a 13-year-old male on Snapchat. During the investigation, detectives learned the student posted a partial photo of himself, which included a written threat to commit a mass shooting at BCPS offices in Fort Lauderdale. Detectives say the student was upset over BCPS’s new student cellphone policy. The teen was tracked down at his home in Weston and taken into custody that same day.
On Thursday, Aug. 15, TMU detectives received another tip from the FBI about a Broward County student making threats against Cooper City High School on Snapchat. Detectives say the threat investigation led to the arrest of a 13-year-old female.
Under Florida law, both students face a felony charge of written threats to kill, do bodily injury, conduct a mass shooting, or an act of terrorism. Each teen also faces an additional charge of using a two-way communication device to facilitate a felony.
“It’s unfortunate that this happens more times than not every school year,” Sheriff Dr. Tony said at the news conference. “Do not allow your children to make a mistake and get a felony arrest on their record that they’re probably not going to get rid of.”
