A South Carolina teen was arrested after police said he made threats towards his high school, the same day gunman Nikolas Cruz brutally murdered 17 of his former classmates and teachers at a Florida school.
The Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office said they received a tip on Wednesday about a disturbing photo a ninth grader at Broome High School shared on Snapchat.
According to the police, the teen was pictured with a mask partially covering his face and a large gun in his hand. The student wrote in the caption: ‘round 2 of Florida tomorrow’, referencing Wednesday’s massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.
A South Carolina was arrested for posting this photo seen above of him holding a gun threatening his school
Police said the suspect was a ninth grader at Broome High School in Spartanburg, South Carolina
The tip was made by another student at Broome who showed the social media post to his parent.
Deputies said they went to the suspect’s home and he told them the Snapchat post was meant as a joke.
A search of the home turned up the mask and a weapon, which turned out to be a pellet gun. Investigators said the teen did not have access to any real firearms.
‘After informing the suspect and his parents of the law violation, the suspect stated his Snapchat post was just intended as a joke, and that he didn’t have any serious intentions,’ Lt. Kevin Bobo told Fox Carolina.
Spartan School District Three said they were made aware of the threat early Thursday morning and added extra security at Broome High School as a precaution.
The teen made the threats the same day 19-year-old gunman Nikolas Cruz (pictured) shot and killed 17 people at a Florida high school
The district also thanked the student for alerting his parents to the suspect’s Snapchat post.
‘The district would like to comment the student who came forward with information,’ superintendent Kenny Blackwood said in a statement. ‘It is this kind of courage to speak out that can and will prevent tragedies.’
Police said the teen, whose identity was not released because of his age, was arrested and charged with disturbing schools. He’s being held at the Department of Juvenile Justice facility in Greenville.
Senior Chloe Gentry told WSPA that school officials told students they could leave early Thursday if they were nervous. She said several parents came back to the school to sign their children out and take them home.
‘I wasn’t scared,’ she said. ‘I was nervous. I didn’t know who the kid was.’
On Wednesday, more than a dozen people were killed at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School when 19-year-old Nikolas Cruz opened fire shortly after 2pm. Authorities said at least 17 students and teachers were killed.
Cruz, who was expelled from the school for disciplinary reasons, appeared in court for the first time on Thursday to be arraigned on 17 counts of premeditated murder – charges that carry the possibility of the death penalty.
Cruz, who had been expelled from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida for disciplinary reasons, opened fire inside the school shortly after 2pm killing more than a dozen of his former classmates and teachers
Cruz, pictured above during his arrest, was arraigned on 17 counts of premeditated murder – charges that carry the possibility of the death penalty