A 15-year-old boy was arrested on Thursday after he allegedly threatened to commit a school shooting in Seminole County.
According to the Sanford Police Department, at around 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, September 12, officers responded to the area of Pinecrest Drive in Sanford in reference to an anonymous tip stating that the 15-year-old boy had “sent social media messages threatening to become a school shooter.”
An investigation was launched, and the officers discovered that the teen suspect was the person who had allegedly sent the threatening messages. He was arrested and charged with making written/electronic threats to conduct a mass shooting, which is a second-degree felony.
No further details were provided by the police department regarding the written threat or the school that the threat was directed towards.
Sanford Police Chief Cecil Smith released the following statement after the 15-year-old’s arrest:
“Threatening to commit a school shooting is not a joke, it is a felony, and it will land you in jail. Sanford Police officers will continue to follow up on and quickly act on these reports.”
In a media release on Friday morning, the Sanford Police Department stated that local students and school staff should continue reporting any suspicious incidents to law enforcement.
In addition, SPD encourages local families to speak with their children regarding this topic to “ensure that they are aware of the severity of making these types of threats, and instruct them on what to do if they observe a fellow student making threats.”
Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Sanford Police Department at 407-688-5070. Anonymous tips can also be provided by calling 1-800-423-TIPS(8477).
Earlier this week, a high school in Altamonte Springs was placed on lockdown after a student allegedly brought a gun on campus.