13-year-old girl arrested for online shooting threat to school: HCSO

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — A 13-year-old girl was arrested Friday morning after making a threat to “shoot up the school” on social media, according to The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.

According to deputies, the girl made the threats on her Instagram account, writing “im the one who gonna shoot up dowdell middle magnet.”

Authorities had received the anonymous tip at 7:42 a.m. about the Dowdell Middle School student and met her at the school around 8:20 a.m. The student said she wrote the note as a joke. Officials said a gun was not found at the school.

The teen was arrested and charged with a written or electronic threat to conduct a mass shooting or act of terrorism and the unlawful use of a two-way communications device.

“It’s horrific to see that, in just two days, we’ve had students making online threats as jokes. Let me be clear. These threats are not funny, and they come with serious consequences. I urge parents to talk to their children about the severity of their actions and the lasting repercussions they can have,” Sheriff Chad Chronister said. “I want to commend the person who reported the threat, allowing our detectives to act quickly and ensure the safety of both students and teachers at the school.”

This remains an active investigation.

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