Two teens were arrested last week for making school shooting threats. Both threats were discovered through different means, emphasizing the important roles both law enforcement and the general public play in violence prevention.
Just last month, at least six possible school shooting plots were averted thanks to tips made by concerned citizens. Another potential attack was discovered on social media by the FBI.
According to CNN’s analysis of various databases, four school shootings have been carried out in the U.S. this year. Two were in K-12 schools and two were on college campuses. The shootings left one person dead and at least five others injured.
Florida Teen Makes Threats Against Seminole High School
A 17-year-old Florida boy was arrested and charged Sunday for posting a video that allegedly showed him threatening to attack Seminole High School in Sanford, NBC reports. The teen is a student at nearby Elevation High School. Both schools are part of Seminole County Public Schools.
An anonymous tip submitted on Saturday alerted police of the video and the teen was arrested within 24 hours. According to court documents, the teen claimed to have an extensive arsenal, including an AK-47 assault rifle, a SVD rifle, a Glock 19 handgun, and a M4 rifle.
RELATED: Indiana Teen Obsessed with Mass Shooters Arrested for Planning School Shooting
The arrest report says the teen said he planned to use his guns during lunch period when there is a big group of people, and in between classes when students are in the hallways, WFTV reports. He also reportedly said he planned to kill himself after the attack.
Police searched his home, however, and located airsoft weapons and an airsoft vest. They also seized a laptop, an iPhone, a knife, and a notebook.
The teen has been charged with intimidation through making a written or electronic threat of mass shooting or a terrorist act.
Sanford Police increased security this week at Seminole High School as a precaution.
Schenectady Teen Arrested for Making School Shooting Threat
A 13-year-old girl from Schenectady, N.Y., was arrested Wednesday for making a threat, News 10 reports. Schenectady Police were notified by the FBI of an online shooting threat posted in a comments section on TikTok. The threat did not include any specific individuals or schools within the Schenectady City School District, authorities said.
Investigators were able to track the IP address of the commenter and traced it to a Schenectady residence where the teen lived. No weapons were found in the home. The suspect was transported to the department’s Youth Aid Bureau and was charged with making a terroristic threat.
Schenectady Police said they have been in contact with the school district and no other threats have been identified.
