PEMBROKE PINES, Fla. – A 14-year-old suspect appeared in court Thursday after authorities said he and another teenager made threats against Somerset Academy in Pembroke Pines, despite having no known connection to the school or South Florida.
Juan Banos, of Ann Arbor, Michigan, is currently being held in juvenile custody in Broward County on felony charges, including threatening to discharge a destructive device, unlawful use of a two-way communications device and disrupting an educational institution.
Authorities confirmed that Banos turned himself in to police on Wednesday. He was arrested along with Logan Gollinger, 15, of Amsterdam, New York, after Pembroke Pines police say the two were involved in making online threats against the school last November.
“The threat lasted for a full week... with threats of violence to shoot and kill students,” said Capt. Adam Feiner of the Pembroke Pines Police Department.
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During the hearing, Banos was ordered to remain in custody for at least three more weeks while undergoing a court-ordered psychological evaluation. He has also been ordered to have no contact with his co-defendants and no access to electronics unless for educational purposes.
While the threats led to increased police presence at the school, officers later determined the threat was not credible.
In a fundraising campaign to cover legal expenses, Gollinger’s uncle claimed the teen was innocent, alleging his IP address was spoofed during an online game dispute.
After authorities confiscated Gollinger’s electronics, police said they linked Banos to the threat.
Authorities believe he may be part of a larger group of young people making similar threats for amusement.
The threat led to an increased police presence at the school, which some students recall vividly.
“It was a lot of cops, and we’ve never experienced something like that, so seeing that was, like, shocking,” Ericka Bruno, a 10th-grade student told Local 10 News on Thursday.
Other students expressed relief over the arrests but were left questioning the motive behind the threats, especially since the suspects had no known ties to the area.
“They probably just thought it was funny, and they wanted to, like, pick a school and just make a threat,” said 10th-grader Daniel Sandoval.
In addition to the teenagers, Gollinger’s mother, 39-year-old Elizabeth Smith, was arrested for allegedly helping her son delete evidence, according to investigators.
Authorities emphasized the seriousness of threats against school campuses and urged parents to monitor their children’s online activities.
“Regardless of where an offender might be, we will uncover the truth,” said Feiner on Wednesday. “This investigation brought three people to justice.”
Authorities confirmed that Smith is expected to turn herself in next week while Gollinger remains in custody in New York, with an extradition hearing scheduled for Thursday.
Local 10 News has requested the suspects’ arrest reports.
