- April 24, 2024
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Deputies arrested a 17-year-old male student of Flagler Palm Coast High School after the teen made written threats to conduct a school shooting, according to a news release by the Flagler County Sheriff's Office.
A visitor at the Flagler County Fair on Thursday, April 4, informed a deputy about a video circulating on Snapchat showing several rounds of ammunition and magazines with the caption "I'm ready to shoot up the school."
Deputies tracked the social media account to a 17-year-old resident of Palm Coast. The suspect later admitted to posting the video but claimed it was a joke. Deputies spoke with the suspect's father, who said that there were no firearms or ammunition in the residence.
“As we have said many times before, this is not a joke and these threats will only get you in serious trouble,” Sheriff Rick Staly said in a release. “A special thank you to the fair visitor that reported the Snapchat posting. Cell phones and social media are a part of every child’s life these days and it is more important than ever for parents to pay attention to what their children are doing online. Let them know that if they make the wrong choice, they will face serious consequences. We have a zero tolerance policy for
threats in Flagler County.”
The suspect was taken to the Flagler County Jail and charged with written threats to conduct a mass shooting.
During the screening process, he made comments that required him to be placed under a Baker Act. Once he is medically cleared,
he will be turned over to the Department of Juvenile Justice in Daytona.
School officials were made aware of the incident.
“We thank the Sheriff’s Office for their quick work overnight and their commitment to keeping our campuses safe," Flagler Schools Superintendent Tager said. "As we’ve said in the past, ensuring our campuses are safe for our students, teachers and staff is our top priority. Threats such as the one in this incident will not be tolerated.”
There will be an increased presence of FCSO deputies at Flagler County Schools on Friday, April 5.
