Manatee Schools Superintendent Says Threats Won't Be Tolerated

BRADENTON, FL – In the aftermath of the shootings at Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School, the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office and Bradenton Police are juggling an onslaught of threats at schools throughout the county, prompting the school superintendent to send out a videotaped warning to students.

The latest threat was directed at Bayshore High School, 5401 34th St. W., Thursday, Feb. 22, prompting a schoolwide lockdown.

According to Manatee County Sheriff’s spokesman Dave Bristow, the lockdown began at about 10:30 a.m. after the school received the threat and was lifted shortly after 12:30 p.m. when sheriff’s investigators concluded the threat was unfounded.

Meanwhile, Bradenton Police increased patrols at Manatee and Southeast high schools Thursday due to a threatening note found by a student on the Manatee High School campus Feb. 15 indicating that a shooting would take place at the school on Feb. 22 at 12:15 p.m.

Law enforcement officials aren’t taking these threats lightly.

Since the Parkland shootings, five Manatee County students have been charged with felonies for threatening violence at their schools.

Thursday, a 13-year-old was charged after launching a threat against Nolan Middle School. Earlier in the week, a 15-year-old Manatee High School student was arrested for writing a threatening note. A 14-year-old Braden River Middle School was arrested for threatening his school on social media. And two 11-year-old girls were arrested for posting a threat to their school, Team Success Charter School, also on social media.

The barrage of school threats prompted Manatee County Schools Superintendent Diana Green to issue a videotaped message to students Thursday afternoon.

“We are commited to working closely with local law enforcement to find and punish anyone who makes a threat of violence against our schools or any one of our students, even if that threat is made in jest, posted on social media or said in a moment of anger or frustration," Green said.

She said the district and law enforcement will find and punish anyone who makes a threat. Not only will the student be arrested but could face suspension, reassignment to an alternative school or expulsion, she said.

"Think very carefully before you say anything or post something that can change the course of your life," she warned.

Video via Manatee County School District