16-Year-Old Arrested for Making Bomb Threats to Several Broward Schools and Airport

A 16-year-old accused of allegedly making false reports of bomb threats to several Broward County schools and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport Friday has been arrested, authorities said Saturday.

According to investigators, at around 10 a.m. Friday, the male teen called 911 and told the operator, “About to do a bombing at South Broward High School,” and stated that the bombing would happen "in about two hours."

Minutes later, the teen called 911 again, threatening to commit a shooting at South Broward High School and Attucks Middle School both located in Hollywood. As a result, Attucks Middle School was secured in place, but the lockdown was later lifted.

Students at South Broward were evacuated as a precaution, and the principal put out a message to parents and guardians regarding pick up.

The investigation revealed that in the hours that followed, the teen proceeded to make additional false bomb threats calling into Coconut Creek High School, Blanche Ely High School, Coral Glades High School and Fort Lauderdale - Hollywood International Airport, disrupting everyday functions. 

Coral Springs Police officials said the school board received multiple identical bomb threats, leading to the evacuation of Coral Glades High School.

It has been brought to our attention that the school board has received multiple, identical bomb threats. As a precautionary measure, the school board decided to evacuate Coral Glades High at this time. Everyone is safe, and they aren't releasing students. Updates to follow pic.twitter.com/a53tugTKcS

— Coral Springs Police (@CoralSpringsPD) May 12, 2023

Police said everyone was safe, and the school wasn't releasing students, who were later allowed back into buildings.

BSO’s Real Time Crime Center monitored the cameras on the schools, while investigators searched all affected locations and determined there was no actual threat. 

Broward Sheriff’s Office Threat Management Unit detectives worked with investigators with the Hollywood Police Department, Coral Springs Threat Management Unit and Coconut Creek Police Department developed information that led them to the teen, who does not attend any of the schools affected. 

The teen was arrested in less than 24 hours and was taken to the Juvenile Assessment Center for processing.

The teen is facing charges of written threats to kill, false report of a bomb or firearm and disruption of a school function. He appeared in a Broward bond court Saturday and will have his next court date on May 22.

Don Beeler is with TDR Technology Solutions, a company that provides solutions to prevent swatting and school threats, which includes software that can analyze calls.

School Access Manager School Threat Database shows Friday's school threats cost taxpayers more than $326,000 and impacted more than 9,000 students.

"The amount of stress it puts on parents, and then the school boards and superintendent is unbelievable,” Beeler said.

Last week, Coral Springs Police arrested 18-year-old Taravella High School student, Catrina Petit for threatening to commit a school shooting, while sending the threat out fraudulently using another student’s name and computer access.

"The averages are going up every month,” Beeler said. "It's really difficult for law enforcement and the school boards and superintendents, it's really a hard time.”