A 14-year-old student at a school in Pembroke Pines was arrested after police say he posted a threatening image on Instagram, just the latest in a series of arrests for similar threats at other South Florida schools.
The teen, who is a student at Franklin Academy, posted an image showing another juvenile holding an Airsoft gun and wearing a protective vest with the words "see you Monday" and "Gn Franklin" underneath, Pembroke Pines Police said. "Gn" is shorthand for "Good Night," according to police.
Police discovered that the original image had been shared on a private chat group with only the "see you Monday" text. The student took the image without the other juvenile's knowledge and added the "Gn Franklin" before posting it on Instagram, police said.
The 14-year-old admitted to detectives that he uploaded the image and text but said he didn't intend to direct a threat toward the school, officials said. The juvenile told police the picture had been taken several weeks ago while he was Airsoft shooting with some friends.
Police charged the 14-year-old with making a false report concerning the use of a firearm in a violent manner. No charged were filed against the other juvenile.
Also on Thursday, police announced the arrest of a 13-year-old student at Silver Trail Middle School for making threatening statements about shooting up the school.
According to police, the boy said "I know why people shoot up schools. I wish I could do it right now" while he was in class. A teacher and several students overheard the comments.
That teen was also charged with making a false report concerning the use of a firearm in a violent manner.
The arrests Thursday are the latest of several in recent days of students accused of making threats at South Florida schools. On Wednesday, police in Miramar arrested a 16-year-old Everglades High School student accused of threatening to shoot up the school.
On Tuesday, a 9-year-old boy brought a loaded handgun to Lauderhill Paul Turner Elementary School and threatened three of his classmates, police said.
Last week, an 11-year-old student at Walter C. Young Middle School in Pembroke Pines was arrested after police say he also threatened to shoot up the school.
Also last week, a 13-year-old student was arrested after threatening to shoot up Pines Middle School, police said.
