TAMPA, Fla. — Nearly every county across Tampa Bay is seeing an alarming rise in school threats.
On Wednesday, three more teens were arrested for threats made against schools in Manatee County. Deputies put an 11-year-old in handcuffs at Buffalo Creek Middle. Another two students were taken into custody at Lakewood Ranch Prep.
The Manatee Sheriff's Office said it was made aware of direct messages sent through an instant messaging app and Snapchat. In one message, a 14-year-old threatened to kill classmates.
Tuesday night, Pinellas County deputies arrested an 11-year-old for making a threat. Also Tuesday, Hillsborough deputies took a 13-year-old student into custody.
Pasco County Sheriff's Office reported it has made five arrests so far this school year, and in the last two weeks, received more than 100 calls for service regarding school threats.
Hillsborough County Schools said it has seen at least a dozen arrests this year, and 115 calls for service related to threats were made in the last two weeks.
In Polk County, 20 students have been arrested and charged this school year.
Now, schools and law enforcement are pleading with parents to ensure kids know even joking about threats could lead to an arrest.
"I'm asking all the parents out there, please, have conversations with your loved ones," said Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco."Explain to your children that they can't make a threat, just make a statement, because it could be a crime."
The Pasco County Sheriff's Office tells 10 Tampa Bay that all threats require a significant law enforcement response, in some of the most severe cases, involving up to 20 deputies, all of which have a "tremendous financial impact."
A USF researcher who specializes in preventing youth injury and violence said there are many reasons why kids might be making these threats.
"Psychologists will point to different things as to why this is happening," said Dr. Karen Liller. "It could be some previous trauma and now they're acting out. It could also be attention-getting without fully understanding the consequences."
Dr. Liller said the proliferation of threats could be attributed to increased social media access and desensitization towards shootings.
"We do have violence on social media. We have more violent games. They have access. And all these things are compounding," Dr. Liller said. "Children are impressionable. Children see this, and for some attention-seekers think 'Oh they got all this attention and they're on TV,' again, not understanding what the long-term ramifications are."