PEMBROKE PINES, Fla. – Police announced on Wednesday the arrest of three individuals, including two teenagers, in connection with a threat made against Somerset Academy in Pembroke Pines on November 9, 2024.
Investigators believe the teenagers may be part of a larger network targeting schools for amusement. Authorities stated that the incident began when a male caller contacted police, provided a name, and claimed to be a student, leading to the investigation and subsequent arrests.
The caller allegedly threatened to shoot and kill students, staff, and law enforcement, prompting heightened security at the school, according to detectives.
Police later determined that the name provided by the caller did not match any current or former students at the school. Following an extensive investigation involving state and federal agencies, Pembroke Pines police identified 15-year-old Logan James Gollinger of Amsterdam, New York, 14-year-old Juan Antonio Banos of Ann Arbor, Michigan, and Gollinger’s mother, 37-year-old Elizabeth Smith, of Amsterdam, New York, as suspects in the case.
Authorities reported that Logan Gollinger was arrested by New York police officers on January 3.
Logan Gollinger remains in custody, awaiting an extradition hearing scheduled for January 16, which will determine when he will be transferred to Florida. Police confirmed that Gollinger is facing one count each of threatening to discharge a destructive device, unlawful use of a two-way communications device, and disrupting an educational institution.
Juan Antonio Banos surrendered to Florida authorities on January 15 and is being held by the Department of Juvenile Justice. He faces charges including harassment, making threats, and disrupting an educational institution, according to investigators.
Elizabeth Smith, who was released on bond, is expected to surrender to Pembroke Pines police by January 24. She faces a felony charge of solicitation to commit tampering with physical evidence, as authorities allege she instructed her son to delete evidence related to the investigation.
Investigators collaborated with multiple agencies, including the Broward Sheriff’s Office, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the FBI, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, to identify the suspects despite their efforts to conceal their identities.
Authorities also 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 Pembroke Pines Police Capt. Adam Feiner. “This investigation brought three people to justice.”
