ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. — A 12-year-old St. Johns County middle school student was arrested Thursday on felony charges after deputies said the student made "high risk" school shooting threats.
The St. Johns County Sheriff's Office said it discovered the threats through the FortifyFL app after a user submitted a tip about a statement made by a Sebastian Middle School student about harming fellow students.
Deputies investigated the student's history, including behavioral issues, interviews, family and home environment. Based on the information they uncovered, the threats were deemed "high risk," and the decision was made to arrest the student.
The FortifyFL app was named by Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School students following the aftermath of the mass shooting at the Parkland, Florida school in 2018. The app allows electronic tips to be sent to law enforcement and school staff.
"School safety is a top priority for SJSO and involves advanced training, state of the art technology, and dedicated resources to ensure the safety of students, staff, and visitors," the sheriff's office said. "If you have information about a potential threat to St. Johns County Schools, please notify SJSO immediately."