Florida Girl Arrested for Mass Shooting Threat

A 12-year-old girl from Florida has been taken into custody after allegedly posting a detailed plan online, claiming she intended to carry out a mass shooting at her middle school due to bullying, according to local authorities.

The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office reported that the manifesto outlined a strategy for a shooting at Southwestern Middle School. They noted that deputies acted swiftly to investigate and identify the girl involved.

When detectives interviewed her, she initially denied any connection but then confessed to planning the incident and sharing it online.

The school itself is situated in DeLand, which is about 45 minutes north of Orlando.

The sheriff’s office stated that she was arrested for making a written threat and misusing a communication device.

Due to her age, the media has chosen not to disclose the girl’s name.

In related incidents, reports indicated that authorities have recently charged two 15-year-old boys for threatening a high school shooting and an 11-year-old girl for writing a “kill list” on her desk.

According to local news, a tipster, who learned of the manifesto from a friend, reported the information to authorities.

Although the original post was removed, comments and a username related to the plan remained, allowing investigators to track the IP address to DeLand and identify the girl as a student at the school.

The threat included specific details about when students would arrive, where they would gather, and even named the teacher who had given her a failing grade, as well as fellow students.

Interviews with the suspected shooter and others revealed that she had indeed been bullied, which she mentioned occurred during math class.

This arrest underscores a growing concern in Florida regarding threats made by young individuals. Recently, several minors have faced charges for similar actions. Additionally, decisions around releasing the identities and images of young offenders have sparked debate.