An anonymous threat briefly rattled Innovation Preparatory Academy in Wesley Chapel on Friday, prompting a quick police response and a controlled campus status before deputies ultimately ruled the scare a hoax.
According to the Pasco Sheriff’s Office, law enforcement conducted a careful sweep of the school, found no credible danger, and cleared the campus. Classes and normal operations resumed later in the day while investigators turned their attention to finding whoever made the call.
Update: Following a thorough investigation of the campus, the threat was determined to be unfounded. Pasco Sheriff’s Office continues to investigate the source of the hoax threat directed at the school. There is no threat to Innovation Preparatory Academy and normal operations have resumed. https://x.com/i/status/2032519655026212964
— Pasco Sheriff’s Office (@PascoSheriff) March 13, 2026
Official Update From Pasco Deputies
In an update posted on X, the Pasco Sheriff’s Office said the threat was determined to be unfounded and emphasized that there is no threat to Innovation Preparatory Academy, with normal school operations back in place. Deputies said they remained on campus and continued coordinating with school staff while investigators look into the origin of the anonymous call, which the agency described as a suspected swatting attempt. Pasco Sheriff's Office
School Response and Safety Steps
The school posted an Alert on its official website dated Friday, providing campus contact information for parents and guardians who had questions after the incident. The homepage also directs families to FortifyFL, the statewide tool for reporting suspicious activity, as a resource for sharing safety tips with authorities. The site lists the school office phone number as (813) 551-0202. Innovation Preparatory Academy
Why Swatting Is Dangerous
According to the FBI, swatting is the practice of making hoax calls to emergency services in order to trigger a heavily armed response at a specific location. Federal authorities warn that these fake calls can put residents, students, officers and first responders at real risk while also tying up critical public safety resources that may be needed elsewhere. Recent waves of school-related hoaxes have led to multi-agency investigations and new guidance on how law enforcement shares information when incidents appear coordinated across jurisdictions. FBI
Legal Consequences for Hoax Threats
Under Florida law, making a false report about a bomb, shooting or other violent act can bring serious charges, including second-degree felony counts under statutes such as 790.163 and 836.10. In addition to potential prison time and fines, courts can order offenders to pay back the cost of the law enforcement and emergency response that followed the bogus report. When students are suspected of involvement, schools can also take disciplinary action under district policies. Pasco County Schools
How Parents Can Get Information
Parents and guardians seeking updates have been directed to rely on the school’s official communication channels or to call the Innovation Preparatory Academy office at (813) 551-0202 for the latest information about campus operations. For non-emergency matters involving law enforcement, families can contact the Pasco Sheriff’s Office non-emergency line at (727) 847-8102. Innovation Preparatory Academy Pasco Sheriff's Office
