Florida teen arrested after threat targeting McCracken County High School
FOX23 News at 9 p.m
McCRACKEN COUNTY, Ky., (KBSI) — A 15-year-old Florida boy has been arrested after authorities say he made a threat against McCracken County High School on TikTok.
The McCracken County Sheriff’s Office said deputies were alerted to the threat around 3:51 a.m. Aug. 29. Deputies and detectives began investigating with assistance from the McCracken County Schools Police Department.
During the investigation, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office in Florida contacted McCracken County authorities after the FBI alerted them to the threat. Investigators said the IP address associated with the device used to make the threat was traced to an address in Polk County.
Polk County investigators identified and interviewed a 15-year-old boy in Lakeland, Florida, and determined he was responsible for the threat, according to the McCracken County Sheriff’s Office.
The teen was arrested in Florida on charges of unlawful use of a two-way communication device and making a written or electronic threat of a mass shooting or terrorism, both felonies.
McCracken County authorities said they also are filing charges against the teen for second-degree terroristic threatening and identity theft, both Class D felonies, as well as harassing communications, a Class B misdemeanor.
The McCracken County Sheriff’s Office thanked the school district and McCracken County Schools Police Department for their assistance and communication throughout the investigation.
