Late in the school day on 05-02-19, the School Resource Deputy at Winding Waters K-8, Deputy Paul Smith, received information from three students regarding a threat that had been posted on social media by another student at the school.
Deputy Smith acted quickly to investigate the situation and within minutes was able to locate the social media post in question.
With the student’s parent present, Deputy Smith interviewed the student regarding the social media post. The student, a 13-year-old male, told Deputy Smith the post “was only a joke.”
Deputy Smith then placed the student under arrest, charging him with Written Threat to Conduct Mass Shooting. The (student) arrestee was then transported to the Juvenile Detention Center in Ocala.
In an abundance of caution, the Hernando County School District elected to send a robocall to the parents of all students who attend Winding Waters K-8.
This incident has been thoroughly investigated and an arrest made. There is no danger to students and/or the school campus as a result of this social media threat.
