Kathleen High Student Arrested For Making Instagram Threat

LAKELAND, FL -- On Thursday, Aug. 30, Polk County Sheriff's deputies arrested a 16-year-old Lakeland teen and charged him with one felony count of written threat to kill or injure related to an Instagram post.

The Kathleen High School student was taken to the Juvenile Assessment Center this evening.

According to the affidavit, on Aug. 29, the teen posted a selfie on Instagram with this caption: "Active shooter drill tomorrow lol it would be a shame if it was real." It was reported to law enforcement.

When deputies interviewed teen, he told them he knew they were there to talk to him about it. During a search of his cell phone, deputies located another Instagram post on the same date, posted three hours later, with a picture of teen and the caption: "Someone will die today."

The teen told deputies he did it as a joke and he knew that it was stupid.

"This is the first arrest of the school year under this statute, and we hope it's the last," said Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd. "Parents, talk to your kids about the danger of posting things like this on social media. Not only is it not a joke - it's a horrible idea and it's a felony."

The School Board sent an automated message to Kathleen High School school parents alerting them to the arrest.

Image Polk School District

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