LAUDERHILL, Fla. – Parents whose children attend one Broward County public school were notified Tuesday morning that a student had been arrested after a “noncredible threat” was made, which the district became aware of Monday night, district officials confirmed to Local 10 News.
According to an email that was sent to families of Lauderhill 6-12 students, a threatening message was posted on social media and police were able to locate the author of the post.
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“The individual responsible is now facing criminal charges as well as strict punishment as outlined in the Student Code of Conduct,” the email from the school’s principal read. “In Florida, making a threat against a school is a second-degree felony. This applies whether the threat is written or electronic or even if it’s meant as a joke. At this time, there is no safety concern regarding the social media post.”
The principal went on to say that the district will “pursue the most severe consequences, including expulsion, for any student who is found to have made a threat to a school community.”
“Students must understand that online platforms have a lasting footprint with heavy consequences,” the email read.
Broward Sheriff’s Office spokesman Carey Codd confirmed that the student arrested is just 12 years old.
“According to detectives, a student posted threats to several schools across Broward County including schools in Lauderdale Lakes, Lauderhill, Fort Lauderdale and Sunrise. Using investigative methods, detectives traced the threats to a 12-year-old female in Lauderhill,” Codd wrote in a news release. “When confronted with the information by detectives, the student confessed to making the threats and said she intended them as a joke. She said she did not intend to carry out the threat and that she had already deleted the account.”
Codd said the student was taken to the Juvenile Assessment Center, where she was booked on charges of making written threats to kill/conduct a mass shooting and unlawful use of a two-way communication device.
“BSO reminds the public that making school threats is no joke,” he said. “Under Florida law, whether it is said aloud, written in text, or posted on social media, an individual can be charged with a felony for written threats to kill, do bodily injury, or conduct a mass shooting.”
The arrest comes just days after a 14-year-old Broward County girl was arrested for allegedly threatening multiple schools on social media.