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 said they are also investigating two additional threats against other Broward County schools that may lead to more arrests.
The arrests/investigations come less than two weeks after Sheriff Dr. Gregory Tony reminded parents and students at a news conference that threats against schools are taken seriously and will be thoroughly investigated.
“None of this stuff is a joking or laughing matter,” Sheriff Dr. Tony said. “If you threaten…on social media or anywhere else, we are going to track you down and arrest you.”
According to reports 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.”
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