A Miami Lakes teenager who police say threatened via Twitter to “shoot up” his school has waived his right to make his first appearance in court.
The 16-year-old boy didn’t show at a Wednesday afternoon hearing scheduled for him. Meanwhile, Miami-Dade School Board member Raquel Regalado said she thinks the boy should be expelled from school.
"I believe he should be expelled,” she said. “We have to keep a very strong stance on these kinds of threats. I am relieved he apologized, but he is 16 years old and he must know that there are consequences for the things you say on social media.”
She said she also would push for him to undergo psychological counseling.
Palm Coast Man Threatened High School Students on Facebook
The 16-year-old was taken into custody Monday at Miami Lakes Educational Center on a charge of writing or making threats to injure or cause bodily injury, according to a Miami-Dade police arrest affidavit.
According to the affidavit, the teen used his cellphone to make the threats after morning announcements were given by the principal.
Miami Lakes Teen Arrested for School Twitter Threats
"Finna shoot up the school this Friday. Prepare yourselfs," the teen posted, according to the affidavit. "Making a list and checking it twice. We're about to see who gets shot up real nice."
The arrest came just days after 20-year-old Adam Lanza shot and killed more than two dozen people at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Conn., authorities say.
As students returned to class Monday in Miami-Dade, the schools superintendent reassured students and parents that security procedures were in place. According to the affidavit, the teen tweeted about the mass shooting after the principal discussed the tragedy.
Miami-Dade Public Schools' Security Protocols Are "Solid": Superintendent
