JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Two people are facing charges for making threats against Landmark Middle School after an investigation by the Duval County Public Schools Police Department.
"We don't take them as jokes. We don't take them as child's play. We investigate them all fully. We have a team of detectives, as well as our officers at the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office and our other partners in law enforcement at the beaches, the FBI, DEA, we will go to any means necessary to investigate," Executive Director of School Police Chief Greg Burton said.
Chief Greg Burton says the school district has made ten arrests this school year, two just this week and the threats are received through multiple outlets like social media, written notes, and phone calls.
According to a report, a 15-year-old student was arrested for posting a threat to conduct a mass shooting at Landmark Middle School on social media. Officers used investigative resources to track down the owner of the account and locate the individual. Burton says there are repercussions for making threats.
"It is a second-degree felony, which you can receive really up to 15 years for having a written threat to a school. Once we do that, you could have prison time, jail time, loss of opportunities for jobs, loss of opportunities for continuing your education," Chief Burton said.
The second arrest for a separate threat made against the same school was made Friday. In a note to parents, Principal Tyson-White wrote, "I am very disappointed by the actions and poor decisions of these individuals who are now facing very serious consequences. Even though police have determined there is no credible threat to our school, I know that this incident has caused concern and unrest in our school community."
Burton says the department is looking to hire more officers to monitor county schools. He says it's also important for parents to monitor their kids social media.
"Please address the social media tool that your children may have, tick tock, Instagram, whatever it may be. Teach your kids children to make good decisions. And let them realize there are some repercussions to making these threats," Burton explained.