OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. – A 17-year-old student in Osceola County was arrested after making a threat to “shoot up a school” and being caught with a stolen gun, according to the sheriff’s office.
The Osceola County Sheriff’s Office on Monday received an anonymous tip through FortifyFL about the teen making the threat at Poinciana High School and notified a school resource officer.
The school resource officer went to the teen’s home and spoke with the 17-year-old and his mother.
“When deputies confronted the juvenile about the incident, he became very nervous and briefly fainted,” the sheriff’s office said in a release.
Deputies asked the mother if they could conduct a safety search of the residence and during the search, deputies found a firearm inside the teen’s backpack he uses for school.
“The juvenile said he found the gun in Orlando and admitted that he did not own the firearm. A search of the firearm’s serial number revealed it was reported as stolen,” the release said.
The principal of Poinciana High School sent a message to families Tuesday afternoon regarding the threat and arrest:
This is Principal Jeff Schwartz at Poinciana High School. I feel that it is important to let parents know that a threat of school violence was made by one of our students. I am very proud of the person who reported it on FortifyFL, which led to quick action and a thorough investigation by the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office. The student who made the threat will face discipline and law enforcement consequences. Be assured that Poinciana High will continue to work side-by-side with law enforcement to ensure that our school is a safe place to learn and work. I encourage students and parents that if they see or hear something that threatens safety to say something. We will always listen and respond. Thank you for your cooperation and understanding.
The 17-year-old was arrested and faces several charges, including grand theft of a firearm and possession of a firearm by a minor.
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