LITHIA, Fla. — Just two days after a potential shooter threat put Newsome High School on lockdown for several hours, the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office said it will have more deputies monitoring the building at the start of Monday, according to an X post from the agency.
"As we continue to investigate the threat made last week and in an abundance of caution, you will notice an increased presence of #teamHCSO at the school," deputies said in the post. "To ensure the safety of all students, teachers and staff, we will have added security measures in place as everyone enters the building."
Around 8:45 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 13, deputies were made aware of a post on Fortify Florida — a suspicious activity reporting site — threatening to shoot a teacher and bring a bomb to campus.
The sheriff's office shared redacted images of the threats.
Newsome High School was placed on lockdown while several sheriff's office units responded to the school. Approximately 200 members of the sheriff's office spent hours combing through the buildings, conducting security screenings and evacuating students to secured areas.
The sheriff's office is now offering a $1,000 reward for any information leading to the arrest of the individual responsible for a threat against the high school, according to a Facebook post. Deputies are also encouraging parents to talk to their children, monitor their social media and report anything suspicious.
The sheriff's office said a total of eight threats regarding Newsome High School were sent to Fortify Florida on Friday. Between Sept. 4 and Sept. 12, the sheriff's office investigated a total of 111 school-based threats submitted to the site.
The sheriff's office ended the post by saying students and parents should anticipate delays at the start of the school day.
To report a tip anonymously, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-873-TIPS (8477) or **TIPS from your cell phone or the use the free Florida Crime Stoppers app.