Phone Threats Result In School Dance Cancellation

WINTER HAVEN, FL -- A 13 year-old Denison Middle School student has been arrested for calling in a school shooting threat May 18, which caused a planned school dance to be cancelled.

According to Winter Haven Police, the school office received three calls from someone stating that people would be killed at the planned dance later in the evening.

The first call came in at 12:50 p.m. and a male voice said, "Thirty people are going to die at the dance tonight. Tell Ms. Cox her car is not safe." Then the caller hung up.

The next call came in at 12:59 p.m. and the same male voice said, "Thirty-five people are going to die tonight."

The third and final call came in at 2:05 p.m., again with the same male voice stating, repeating the earlier threat.

The principal contacted police and, after discussions, the school decided to cancel the school dance as a precaution. During their investigation, police were able to obtain a phone number through the school's phone service provider.

On Tuesday, May 22, detectives went to the home of the caller who said the calls to the school were a prank to get back at another student. He was charged with hoax threats via phone, a second degree felony, and disrupting a school function, a second-degree misdemeanor.

Police Chief Charlie Bird reiterated his zero tolerance policy for threats against schools.

"Let me make this perfectly clear," said Bird. "It is not a laughing matter involving any violence, particularly a shooting, whether at a school, a school function or any gathering no matter where the location. We are committed to making sure that anyone who thinks it's a joke will find out that we aren't laughing."

Image via Winter Haven Police