The threats, which were separate incidents at different schools, were found not to be credible, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY – A high school and a middle school student were arrested Wednesday (Feb. 21) after making violent threats against their schools, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.

In one case, a student claimed he was going to “shoot up” Armwood High School. In the other, a pupil at Turkey Creek Middle School also threatened violenct. Deputies investigated each case and said neither was a credible threat. In neither instance did the boy any efforts to act on his threats.

The students were arrested and each was charged with one count of making a false report concerning planting a bomb, an explosive, or a weapon of mass destruction, or concerning the use of firearms in a violent manner, a felony. They were taken to the Hillsborough County Juvenile Assessment Center.

In the Armwood High case, deputies said a student made threatening statements about 3:10 p.m. while at the school bus ramp. The statements made witnesses who heard him fear for their safety.

The student claimed he had a machine gun and was going to “shoot up the school.” He also told the witnesses he was going to “kill his animals when he got home.” and told them he had a bomb with him at school. When confronted by teachers, he made similar statements in their presence, deputies said.

Deputies interviewed him and later arrested him. No weapons or bombs were found.

In the Turkey Creek Middle case, deputies said a pupil made threatening statements to his teacher in front of his class around 11:30 a.m. After claiming that he was “going to do Florida Round 2 tomorrow,” the pupil was taken out of class and searched. No weapons were found.

Earlier this week, Hillsborough Sheriff Chad Chronister said he has a no-nonsense attitude with regards to these types of threats. Chronister stressed the importance of the community’s help in identifying these individuals to get them out of schools and behind bars.

“The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, and our dedicated cadre of School Resource Deputies, remain hyper-vigilant to any threats or vows of violence, whether they are cryptic statements on social media, so called ‘copycat’ threats or words spoken between students,” Chronister said.

“Law enforcement and educators depend on students, parents and caregivers to alert us when they hear something or sense that something isn’t right.I implore everyone to do the right thing when it comes to our children’s safety. Don’t stay silent or in the shadows. Be heard and maybe save a life.”

Hillsborough Sheriff | Crime | School Shooting | Arrests | Tampabay News

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