Teen Arrested After Online School Shooting Threat in Manatee County

A high school freshman in Bradenton, Florida, has been arrested following threats he made on Snapchat about a mass school shooting. The incident prompted a swift response from the Manatee County Sheriff's Office and Bradenton police, who were informed of multiple threats circulating on social media regarding alleged shootings planned for local schools. After investigating, authorities identified the 15-year-old male, who confessed to making the threats as a joke. A search of his cellphone yielded evidence, but no weapons were found during a subsequent search. In light of the situation, additional deputies will be deployed at several schools to provide an extra layer of security for students.

Sheriff Ricks Wells stated that the safety of students is paramount and that threats of this nature are taken very seriously. The sheriff's office is continuing to investigate other social media posts related to the threats. This incident reflects the ongoing concerns about school safety and the implications of online threats.