A 12-year-old Broward girl accused of making threats to schools. 2nd arrest in 3 days

A 12-year-old girl is accused of making online threats to several Broward County schools, authorities say.

The girl was arrested late Monday night after the Broward Sheriff’s Office caught wind of social media threats to schools in Lauderdale Lakes, Lauderhill, Fort Lauderdale and Sunrise, according to Carey Codd, spokesman for BSO.

Lauderhill 6-12 STEM-MED Magnet School Principal Ryan Reardon sent a statement to parents on the threat Tuesday morning.

“Last night, the District was made aware of a noncredible threat to the school. Law enforcement immediately responded and was able to locate the author of the social media post,” Reardon wrote. “The individual responsible is now facing criminal charges as well as strict punishment as outlined in the Student Code of Conduct.”

When detectives confronted the girl, she confessed and said the threats were a joke, Codd said. Deputies did not identify her but said she lives in Lauderhill.

She was taken to the Juvenile Assessment Center and faces a charge of making written threats to kill/conduct a mass shooting and unlawful use of a two-way communication , Codd added.

In a Tuesday morning press conference, Broward County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Howard Hepburn addressed the recent threats and stressed to parents the importance of teaching their children the seriousness of making such threats

“I’m still shocked that students aren’t getting the message,” Hepburn said. “.... I’m hopeful parents are having these types of discussions with their students and to let them know threats are not a joke, it will change your life’s trajectory.”

Not the first threat

Broward County schools have received a slew of threats since the start of the school year last month.

On Saturday, a 14-year-old girl was arrested for and accused of making threatening Instagram posts to Broward schools, BSO said. She was also taken to the Juvenile Assessment Center and faces the same charge as the Lauderhill girl.

“We take all incidents involving threats of potential violence at schools very seriously because they create a lot of disruption and fear for kids, parents and staff,” Broward State Attorney Harold F. Pryor said in a Monday release. “Our community knows too well that these incidents can be very, very serious and it is important for us to hold any individual accountable for their conduct.”

READ MORE: Teen girl threatened to shoot up several Broward schools, deputies say. She’s arrested

Last week, an 11-year-old boy was arrested and accused of making a bomb threat directed at Somerset Academy Key Charter Middle/High School in Deerfield Beach, authorities said. The school was evacuated as a result.

He was charged with one count of false report of a bomb, explosive or weapon of mass destruction, according to BSO.

READ MORE: 11-year-old arrested for making bomb threat at a Deerfield Beach school: BSO deputies

Under Florida law, whether it is said aloud, written in text, or posted on social media, an individual can be charged with a felony for written threats to kill, do bodily injury, or conduct a mass shooting.

In 2018, Parkland in Broward County was the site of one the deadliest U.S. school shootings when a former student at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High opened fire and killed 17 students and faculty,and injured 17 others.