BRADENTON, Fla. — A 15-year-old was arrested after deputies learned of multiple shooting threats toward several Manatee County schools, the Manatee County Sheriff's Office said in a news release.
The ninth grader is accused of stating via Snapchat that he was going to commit a shooting on Friday, Sept. 13. Evidence was reportedly found on his cellphone and he admitted to making the threats "as a joke."
Deputies found no weapons on the teen before taking him to the county's juvenile detention center, according to the agency.
At this time, Manatee County deputies are still investigating other social media posts and, as a precaution, will reportedly be present at various schools before and during the day.
In the release, Sheriff Rick Wells stated that the teen's actions were "no joking matter."
"Our student's safety is always our highest priority, and these threats are taken very seriously. We will work tirelessly to track down the people who make these threats," Wells stated.
The sheriff's office said anyone who comes across threats towards Manatee County schools should report it to the agency or through the FortifyFL app.
