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Southwood Middle Students Threaten to Kill Teacher on Valentine's Day

A 13-year-old boy and a 12-year-old boy were arrested Sunday after confessing to sending threatening messages to their teacher, MDPD officials said

Two Miami-Dade middle school students were arrested after allegedly using social media to threaten to shoot and kill a teacher and her children on Valentine's Day, according to police. 

A 13-year-old boy and a 12-year-old boy were arrested Sunday after confessing to sending threatening messages to their teacher at Southwood Middle School in Palmetto Bay, the Miami-Dade Police Department said Monday. NBC 6 is not identifying the suspects as well as the teacher that targeted in the threat.

According to an arrest report, the teacher received a follow request and a direct message from an Instagram account that stated she and her children "are next on Valentine's Day for making my life I'm finna kill all yo family and shoot up yo b---- a-- school."

The victim alerted authorities and police tracked down the two boys, who admitted to creating the account and making the threats, police said. They were both transported to the juvenile assessment center.

Both suspects face a charge of aggravated stalking with written threats to kill or cause bodily injury, according to police. Attorney information was not available.

"Recent arrests of students for hoax social media threats demonstrate clearly and unequivocally that Miami-Dade County Public Schools has a zero-tolerance policy related to this type of activity," Miami-Dade Superintendent Alberto M. Carvalho said in a statement.

Parents and students must understand that any threat – real or fabricated – to schools and students is a serious matter. It is unacceptable and those involved in such activity will be prosecuted. Prank and hoax threats made against a school are counterproductive to the life-saving work of law enforcement and compromises the safety of everyone."

Miami-Dade Schools says it has received 59 threats so far this school year. Twelve resulted in arrests.

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