ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Pinellas County deputies arrested a 17-year-old accused of threatening to kill a county commissioner in a social media post, the sheriff's office announced on Monday.
Investigators say the teen's post was directed toward Pinellas County Commissioner Chris Latvala.
According to a press release, the post read, "I live 5 minutes from him I'm gonna go to his house and blow his head off with my short-barreled."
The comment was posted to X, formerly known as Twitter, with Commissioner Latvala being tagged. The original post was said to be about a new stadium for the Rays.
10 Tampa Bay is not naming the 17-year-old because they are a minor. The sheriff's office said the teen turned themself in on Saturday. Authorities are pursing a charge of one count of written threats to kill.
Commissioner Latvala has been on the county's board of commissioners since 2022. He represents Pinellas County's District 5.
Although the sheriff's office did not indicate which social media post the teenager allegedly wrote the threat on, details surrounding the Rays' stadium development have been making headlines.
Thought to be a done deal in the summer, widespread damage from hurricanes Milton and Helene, changes post-election and the team’s decision to play in Tampa next season after damage to Tropicana Field have clouded the future of the deal.
Commissioners have balked at the Rays for not communicating with them about their plans for next season, and some leaders feel miffed after their announcement to play at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa.
Commissioner Latvala, who was one of the dissenting votes during the July meeting, told 10 Tampa Bay, "I will be a no on the bonds if they are not playing in Pinellas."
An investigation remains ongoing into the teen's alleged threat. The sheriff's office reports that Latvala was not physically hurt.
