Tampa teen, 14, arrested for Texas school threat

TAMPA, Fla. – A Tampa youngster has been arrested and charged with threats to habits a mass capturing at a Texas school.

According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, the 14-year-old boy used to be situated Thursday after STAR Team investigators had been notified of an ongoing written threat to shoot up a school in San Antonio, Texas.

Working with the FBI, the HCSO investigators mentioned the boy posted a message to a faux Instagram account threatening a center school with a capturing on Oct. 21.

Part of the message mentioned: “Yall got until Friday to find out who I am Or else everyone dies.”

The investigation showed the foundation of the digital threat to a house in Tampa.

When chatting with the 14-year-old boy, officers mentioned he confessed and mentioned he created the pretend account the use of a former classmate’s photograph.

The youngster had previously attended the Texas school, taking flight in February 2023, officers mentioned.

He used to be charged with one rely of Written or Electronic Threat to Conduct a Mass Shooting or Act of Terrorism, and one rely of Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communications Device.

In accordance with Spectrum Bay News 9’s crime guidelines, the teenager isn’t being named because of his being a minor.

“I commend the quick work of the STAR Team investigators, who worked diligently to identify and apprehend this wayward teen,” mentioned Sheriff Chad Chronister. “We do not take lightly any school threats that would harm students or faculty, whether in Hillsborough County or any other state. I urge parents to talk to their children and remind them that even empty threats can come with the full weight of the law.”