Teen girl threatened to shoot up several Broward schools, deputies say. She’s arrested
A 14-year-old girl was arrested Saturday after threatening to shoot up several Broward schools, authorities say.
The high school student, whose identity hasn’t been released, made multiple posts on Instagram threatening violence at a list of schools, deputies say. Detectives traced the social media posts back to the girl, who lives in Lauderdale Lakes.
The posts came days after a shooting at a high school in Georgia killed four people and injured nine others. A 14-year-old boy was arrested in connection to the shooting and will be charged as an adult.
When investigators confronted the teen, she confessed to making the posts — and said they were supposed to be a joke, according to the Broward Sheriff’s Office. After her arrest, she was taken to the Juvenile Assessment Center for processing.
Multiple people, deputies say, saw the posts and flagged them to law enforcement. BSO detectives worked with Broward County Public Schools, Fort Lauderdale and Plantation police departments to investigate the threats.
Among the charges the 14-year-old girl faces: making written threats to kill or conduct a mass shooting. In a release Sunday, BSO said these threats are “taken seriously, investigated fully and could result in criminal charges.”
Anyone who sees or hears a similar should immediately report them to law enforcement.
Broward State Attorney Harold F. Pryor’s released a statement about the case Monday noting the Feb. 14, 2018, mass shooting at Parkland’s Marjory Stoneman High School — in which 17 people were murdered and 17 more wounded — as a critical example of why every threat against a school must be investigated thoroughly.
“We take all incidents involving threats of potential violence at schools very seriously because they create a lot of disruption and fear for kids, parents and staff,” Pryor said. “Our community knows too well that these incidents can be very, very serious and it is important for us to hold any individual accountable for their conduct.”
As far as how the case against the girl will proceed, Pryor said a panel of senior prosecutors will review all of the evidence and circumstances surrounding the threat. Based on their assessment, the State Attorney’s Office will decide whether to file charges or refer the girl to juvenile services programs, including psychological evaluations, Pryor said.
”Speaking in general and not about specific juveniles, prosecutors continue to review all of the evidence and information as it becomes available before and after an arrest is made,” he said. “Cases are handled on an individual basis, depending on all of the evidence and information that is available, and that process is continuously reviewed to try to ensure that justice is done and individuals are held accountable.”
Miami Herald staff writer David Goodhue contributed to this report.
This story was originally published September 8, 2024 at 1:49 PM.
