In an alarming sample of threats towards colleges in South Florida, two college students—a 12-year-old and a 14-year-old—have been arrested in Broward County after posting violent threats on social media.
Each ladies confessed to creating the threats however claimed they had been meant as jokes. Nevertheless, legislation enforcement and faculty officers are taking these instances extraordinarily critically, reminding the general public of the grave penalties of such actions.
A 14-year-old lady was arrested on Saturday by detectives from Broward Sheriff’s Workplace’s Menace Administration Unit, together with a number of legislation enforcement businesses, after she posted a collection of Instagram tales threatening a number of colleges, together with Park Lakes Elementary, Lauderdale Lakes Center, and Dillard Excessive. In line with authorities, her posts referenced a faculty capturing, together with photographs of a hand holding a gun, and even talked about the current Apalachee Excessive Faculty capturing in Georgia, the place 4 individuals had been killed.
Learn: Teen arrested after threatening school shooting at Broward Schools
The 14-year-old now faces costs of creating written threats to kill or conduct a mass capturing, threats involving a harmful machine, and illegal use of a two-way communication machine. After her arrest, she was taken to the Juvenile Evaluation Middle in Fort Lauderdale.
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Broward County Faculty Board Vice Chair Debra Hixon, whose husband was killed within the tragic Marjory Stoneman Douglas capturing, expressed her outrage. “It’s so irritating that this retains occurring. Threats are critical, and the nervousness it causes college students and employees is unforgivable. Whoever made this menace ought to face extreme penalties,” Hixon stated.
Second scholar arrested for making threats
Simply two days after this arrest, a 12-year-old lady from Lauderhill was additionally taken into custody on Monday night time after she allegedly made comparable threats towards a number of colleges, together with these in Lauderdale Lakes, Fort Lauderdale, and Dawn. The scholar was charged with making written threats to kill or conduct a mass capturing and the illegal use of a two-way communication machine. She admitted to detectives that the threats had been meant as a joke and that she had deleted the social media account used to put up them.
“When confronted, she confessed to creating the threats, saying she by no means meant to hold them out,” the Broward Sheriff’s Workplace stated in a press release.
Lauderhill 6-12, one of many colleges focused, confirmed they’d obtained a menace on Monday night time. “Legislation enforcement instantly responded and situated the person accountable. Felony costs will probably be pursued, together with disciplinary motion consistent with the Scholar Code of Conduct,” the college stated.
‘A disruption within the instructional setting’
Broward Faculties Superintendent Dr. Howard Hepburn highlighted that these incidents are a part of a troubling rise in threats made towards colleges through social media. “Let me be very clear: each single menace, whether or not in particular person or on-line, is taken critically and addressed with urgency. These poor choices have life-altering penalties for college students and create a disruption within the instructional setting,” Hepburn stated.
He added that responding to those threats diverts important time and assets from the mission of training and defending college students. “These threats not solely trigger concern and nervousness for college students and employees but additionally disrupt the college day, taking our focus away from what issues most: studying.”
The Broward Sheriff’s Workplace reminded the general public that below Florida legislation, making faculty threats—whether or not spoken, written, or posted on-line—may end up in felony costs. The penalties are extreme and may embody long-term authorized penalties, together with expulsion from faculty.
The arrests in Broward come amid a spate of comparable incidents throughout South Florida. On Friday, Miami-Dade County Public Faculties additionally introduced the arrest of a suspect accused of posting a social media menace of violence towards Lamar Louise Curry Center Faculty. Authorities throughout the area are working collectively to handle these threats with swift authorized motion and elevated faculty security measures.
“M-DCPS kindly asks dad and mom to proceed talking to their youngsters concerning the significance of utilizing social media responsibly. Threats of any variety will probably be taken critically, and people concerned might face life-altering penalties,” a spokesperson for Miami-Dade County Public Faculties stated.
These arrests underscore the significance of accountable social media use and spotlight the severity of creating threats, even in jest. Authorities and faculty officers are urging dad and mom to speak to their youngsters concerning the risks and penalties of on-line conduct.
