HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. — Two 14-year-old middle school students have been arrested and charged with making threatening posts on social media.

According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, the Snapchat posts were made between May 11 and May 13 and contained pictures of guns with imposed messages threatening violence at Bloomingdale High School.


What You Need To Know

  • Two 14-year-old middle school students have been arrested and charged with making school threats

  • The Snapchat posts were made between May 11 and May 13 and contained pictures of guns with imposed messages threatening violence at Bloomingdale High School

  • Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office tracked down the teens, who confessed to authorities

  • Teens charged with a 2nd-degree felony for a written or electronic threat to conduct a mass shooting or act of terrorism

Deputies say the juveniles claimed the posts were made "as a joke and to be funny." However, sheriff’s officials took the threats seriously and initiated a criminal investigation in collaboration with the FBI. 

"The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office takes all threats to our schools and community seriously, regardless of the intent," said Sheriff Chad Chronister. "We will continue to investigate and prosecute those who make threats, whether intended as a joke or not."

The sheriff’s office’s School Threat Assessment Response (STAR) unit tracked down the teens. Deputies said the teens, who do not attend Bloomingdale High, confessed to authorities.

In accordance with Spectrum Bay News 9’s crime guidelines, we are not naming the suspects because they are juveniles.

Officials with the STAR unit said they do not believe the teens had access to firearms, adding they believe they were using stock images in the posts.

Officials said they do not know why the teens focused their comments on that school.  

The teens have been charged with a 2nd-degree felony for a written or electronic threat to conduct a mass shooting or act of terrorism.

"The arrest of these individuals should serve as a warning to anyone who thinks they can make threats on social media without consequences," added Chronister. "We will not tolerate this behavior and will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to ensure our community's safety."