Palm Harbor Student Arrested For Making Threat On Snapchat

PALM HARBOR, FL -- Pinellas County Sheriff’s deputies arrested an 18-year-old student at a Palm Harbor school for posting a threatening message on the social media site, Snapchat.

William Elliott Freeman III of Holiday was charged with one felony count of making a false report about planting a bomb, explosive or weapon of mass destruction.

Freeman is a senior at the Center Academy in Palm Harbor.

Detectives say Freeman posted a threatening photograph and statement on his Snapchat account before school on Sept. 7. The photo showed Freeman standing in front of mirror, holding what appeared to be a handgun, with the statement, “Don’t Come to School Today (It’s a BeBe Gun).”

Deputies were contacted by the school on Sept. 12 after another student told school officials about the Snapchat photograph. \

Detectives say Freeman admitted to taking the photograph and placing it on Snapchat as a joke. He told detectives that he had no plans of causing any harm at the school and did not intend for the post to be perceived as a threat. The handgun he was holding was verified to be a BB pistol and there were no other weapons in his home.

Image via Pinellas Sheriff