A 15-year-old student at Tocoi Creek High School in St. Augustine was arrested on charges relating to threats of violence against the school, as per a statement from the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office (SJSO) on Facebook. The sheriff's office was alerted to the situation through a tip received via the FortifyFL App and proceeded to conduct an investigation involving a threat assessment, evaluating "the student's history, any previous behavior issues, interviews, family and home environment," as noted by the First Coast News.
On Snapchat, the student who made the threat had allegedly posted, "I’m going to shoot up Tocoi High School tomorrow," a statement which, according to the SJSO, "generated significant fear and concern throughout the school community." Deputies determined the threat to be "high risk" and decided to make the arrest out of concern for the safety of others.
The student is facing felony charges under Florida Statute 836.10, which covers written or electronic threats to kill, do bodily injury, or conduct a mass shooting. The charges and the school's subsequent actions are outlined in accordance with the 'Student Code of Conduct,' which will dictate the consequences at the school level. As the Sheriff's Office emphasized the severity with which such threats are taken, Sheriff Rob Hardwick stated, "Threats of violence at our schools will not be tolerated," according to a post on the SJSO's Facebook page. He further extended a message of zero tolerance and readiness of law enforcement to take swift action regarding any such threats.
Sheriff Hardwick praised students for using the FortifyFL app to report suspicious activities, emphasizing the importance of community vigilance. "Please continue to notify law enforcement immediately if you see or hear something concerning," he said, as posted on the SJSO's official Facebook page. This highlights the strong relationship between the sheriff's office and the community, with both working together to prevent potential threats. Strengthening this connection remains a key focus.
