LEON COUNTY, Fla. – A 10-year-old boy was turned over to local police by his father on Thursday after he allegedly threatened on Snapchat to “shoot up” a local high school.
The unidentified minor faces a felony charge of making a written or electronic threat to kill, do bodily injury, or conduct a mass shooting or an act of terrorism, reports WCTV.
Related Article: 5 Ways Schools Can Encourage Students to Report Threats
The boy was arrested after a school resource officer was told about a school shooting social media threat on Wednesday afternoon by Wakulla High School employees. A high school student reported to staff members that he had participated in a Snapchat conversation with someone he didn’t know who said, “Yes I’m finna Shoot up your school It’s yalls last day,” reports WTXL. The SRO immediately began an investigation.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) and FDLE’s Cyber Crime Unit, Counter Terrorism Unit, and Organized Crime Unit also helped with the investigation. The following morning, after the team had worked throughout the night to identify the suspect, the SRO and FDLE special agents contacted the 10-year-old and interviewed him.
Later that day the boy’s father turned him into authorities.
Wakulla County is about 25 miles south of Tallahassee.
Related Article: Father of Apalachee High School Shooter Arrested, Charged with Second-Degree Murder
Since the Apalachee High School shooting that claimed the lives of four people earlier this month, dozens of children and teens have been arrested and charged with threatening school shootings on social media.
