Girl Threatened FL School Shooting, Faces 19 Felonies: Police

CORAL SPRINGS, FL — An 18-year-old girl faces multiple felonies after threatening to commit a school shooting on social media, Coral Springs Police Department wrote in a Facebook post.

Catrina Petit, who is a senior at J.P. Taravella High School, sent the threat out fraudulently using another student’s name and computer access, police said.

The threat was later posted on social media, causing concern in several counties throughout Florida, according to the agency. It was copied and edited using different names when it was reshared.

The Broward County Sheriff’s Office’s Threat Management Unit and Broward County Public Schools’

Petit was arrested Friday and charged with 19 felonies, including three counts of intimidation, one count of false report of weapon mass destruction and 15 counts of interfering with school administration functions, WEAR News reported.

Police shared an image of the threat on Facebook. Though it was mostly blurry, part of the threat clearly reads, “Mark the date 5/5/23 I know I will make history as the top school slaughter.”

According to WSVN, part of the threat also read, “I will shoot up the school and kill every student here. Tomorrow morning? Friday at 2:40 p.m. as the bell rings. But who knows. I may do it during the day or after the school day or in between classes. All I know is that everyone must die. Spread this message.”

Petit signed the message, “Sincerely, Devyn.”

She claimed that she made the threat as a joke, Broward County Public Schools shared in a Facebook post.

“In addition to criminal charges, the student responsible will face disciplinary consequences in accordance with the Code Book for Student Conduct,” the district wrote. “Unfortunately, other … students were victimized during the incident – and have been the subject of online bullying – as their accounts were hacked and their names released.”

For student safety, the school district is now allowing only clear backpacks and bags while on school campuses through the end of the school year.

“Actions have consequences. Think before you post, because it won’t be your phone or computer that goes to jail! It is against the law to threaten violence against anyone or any place,” Broward County Sheriff Gregory Tony wrote in a Facebook post. “Breaking these laws is a serious crime. We will continue to take every threat seriously and keep our community safe.”