Florida Teen Arrested For Allegedly Making Mass School Shooting Threat

An 18-year-old Florida man posted images of himself suggesting that he was heavily armed and headed to the “nearest school."

The teen, Corey Anderson, was arrested on Sunday at a home in Lutz. According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, authorities received a tip earlier in the day that he had made the online threat while posting photos of himself. In the images, he posed with what appeared to be a rifle, handgun and tactical-style vest. Authorities said that the images were accompanied by a caption that read, “Hey Siri, directions to the nearest school." An investigation was done and it was determined that the handgun and rifle were airsoft guns. They shoot pellets rather than bullets.

Sheriff Chad Chronister said in a statement on Sunday that this type of "threat is unacceptable." He added that the teen "intentionally instilled fear into our community as a sick joke, but be warned, this is no laughing matter.” Chronister added that deputies will pursue anyone who makes school-based threats, reported New York Post. According to him, protecting students is their greatest priority, and they take "school threats very seriously."

Anderson was later charged with threatening to conduct a mass shooting or act of terrorism, and his bond was set at $7,500. Jail records showed that the teenager was no longer listed in custody early Monday.

A woman identifying herself as Anderson’s mother told News Channel 8 on Monday that the family was now receiving threats and they had also hired a lawyer. The woman said that they are "getting threats at this time, it’s very scary, very scary.”

Meanwhile, Chronister urged parents to sit down with their children to talk to them about "making threats against schools, teachers or other students." He said that parents should let their kids know that there are "other ways to release their frustration and even if they don’t mean it, making a threat is serious, they could get arrested and end up with a felony on their record."

This comes after a man stormed into a school in Uvalde, Texas, with AR-15-style rifles and killed 19 fourth-grade students and two teachers last Tuesday.