WAKULLA COUNTY, Fla. (WTXL) - A 15-year-old Wakulla County middle school student has been charged with burglary after his social media post proclaiming to be a gang member sparked widespread concern earlier this week.
The Wakulla County Sheriff's Office says that the 15-year-old Riversprings Middle School student who posted concerning content on social media on Tuesday has been arrested.
The student was not arrested for the social media post, but was instead arrested for breaking into a home on in November.
On Nov. 19, a homeowner reported that someone broke into his vacant Crawfordville rental home. When deputies responded, they saw that someone had removed the window air conditioning unit to break in.
Five fingerprints were collected from the scene that were forwarded to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) Crime Laboratory for analysis.
On Tuesday, deputies say a school resource officer assigned to Riversprings Middle School initiated an investigation after several students reported a concerning post on a 15-year old student’s social media page.
Deputies say the post was "widely-circulated locally and concerning to many parents," prompting an investigation.
While the post caused concern for many students, deputies say it did not make any specific threats towards any individual or school. Rather, it appeared as if the 15-year old was proclaiming to be a gang member.
In the post, a "AK style rifle" was seen leaning against a wall. A follow up post also depicted numerous guns. WCSO says that the video in the post appeared to be shot inside a home where guns were displayed on furniture.
As the investigation continued, deputies found no evidence suggesting that the social media posts were criminal nor did the 15-year-old possess any guns.
However, on Thursday, detectives were informed by the FDLE Crime Lab that the fingerprints collected at the burglary scene matched the 15-year-old who made the concerning social media posts.
On Friday, WCSO interviewed the 15-year-old in the presence of his mother. Following the interview, he was arrested for burglary and criminal mischief.
They say the teen was processed through the Wakulla County Jail and was lawfully released to the custody of his parents.
Wakulla County deputies investigate alleged social media threats from student
WAKULLA COUNTY, Fla. (WTXL) - A middle school student has been suspended as Wakulla County deputies investigate a threatening social media post the student allegedly made.
Tuesday morning at River Springs Middle School, the Wakulla County School Board says a student was detained by school administration and the school resource officer after students reported a threatening social media post allegedly made by the student.
Officials stress there were no threats toward the school or the students.
The situation is currently under investigation by school officials and law enforcement.
The student has been suspended and has been handed over to their parents pending the outcome of the investigation by both school administration and the Wakulla County Sheriff’s Office.
There's no word on the gender or age of the student involved.
School officials remind both parents and students to say something if you see something. If you are made aware of a potential threat after school hours, you are asked to immediately contact the Wakulla County Sheriff’s Office.
This is a developing story. Stay with us for details.
