Tampa Police Arrest Two Students For Threats Against Schools
Tampa Police have arrested a 15 year old student and a 16 year old student who made verbal threats at their schools.
Though their threats were later determined to not be credible, they each were charged with making a false report concerning the use of a firearm in a violent manner, a second-degree felony.
One of the students was arrested on Monday, February 19, at approximately 2 p.m. at Middleton High School.
The 15 year old student was on the Middleton High School campus, despite being suspended from school. He was told that he had to leave campus due to his suspension. He responded by saying: “I’m going to come back tomorrow and shoot this bitch up. I don’t give a fuck, I’m going to fuck this school up.” The student later said he was just talking with other students about the recent school shooting in Parkland, Florida.
His mother was called and she cooperated with school officials and police. A threat assessment concluded that the teen did not have any firearms to carry out his threats.
He was charged with making a false report concerning the use of a firearm in a violent manner.
The other student, a 16 year old, was arrested on Tuesday, February 20, in connection with a classroom incident the previous day at Robinson High School.
He had a disagreement with his teacher regarding his grade and stated “If you do not change my grade I will shoot up the school.” A threat assessment and a visit to his home determined that he did not have any firearms to carry out his threat. He was charged with making a false report concerning the use of a firearm in a violent manner.
Though in both cases the students’ comments were found not to be credible threats, Florida Statute 790.163 makes clear that it is “unlawful for any person to make a false report concerning the use of firearms in a violent manner .”
As Chief Brian Dugan said in a joint news conference with School Superintendent Jeff Eakins earlier today, students will be held accountable for making irresponsible statements directed at their school. TPD and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office will continue to team up with school security to investigate comments and social media postings of a threatening nature.