Tarpon Springs Police File Felony Charges Against Middle School Student for Threats

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The Tarpon Springs Police Department announced that detectives arrested a 12 year-old male student at the Tarpon Springs Middle School today and charged the 7th grader with a false report concerning the use of a firearm in a violent manner, a second degree felony. 

Detectives responded to the school after an assistant principal notified the 
School Resource Officer that several students approached the school staff and advised that they heard the suspect talking about a list of five students he wanted to shoot at the school.

Further investigation found that the suspect advised other students that he had a “plan” as to how he would commit the shooting at the school. He advised he would utilize an AR-15 rifle, enter the school at a specific location, proceed to his classroom and then to the cafeteria where he would shoot the students on his list.

The list consisted of the names of five fellow students. The suspect stated to detectives he was not serious about his list and statements and it was just a “joke”.

The suspect was transported to the Pinellas Juvenile Assessment Center. Detectives determined that the suspect does not have possession of, nor access, to any firearms.