Deputies: Teen claiming to be terrorist threatens to blow up St. Lucie County school bus

Will Greenlee | Treasure Coast Newspapers

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ST. LUCIE COUNTY — A 13-year-old boy accused Thursday of saying he was a terrorist and was going to blow up a school bus has been arrested, an affidavit said.

A St. Lucie County Sheriff’s deputy arrested the teen, a Port St. Lucie High School student, on a felony charge of making a threat to bomb; false report of a bomb, explosive, or weapon of mass destruction. He also was arrested on misdemeanor charges related to disturbing the peace.

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About 2 p.m. Thursday, not long after school buses left the school, a school resource deputy was told one of the buses was returning because the student “had made a threat on the bus that he was a terrorist and that he had a bomb and that he was going to blow up the bus,” the affidavit said.

Investigators searched the teen, a Port St. Lucie resident, and he had no weapons or explosives.

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Investigators said the boy’s backpack had two notebooks of “drawings of weapons and shootings,” according to the affidavit.

In a Facebook post Thursday, the Sheriff’s Office stated, “The comments were immediately reported to law enforcement, were investigated thoroughly and determined to be non-credible."

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The boy's grandparents were notified.

Kerry Padrick, schools spokeswoman, said via email the student is facing the potential of expulsion.

“Threats are NO joking matter and everyone has the right to come to school and feel safe,” Padrick said.

TCPalm and Treasure Coast Newspapers customarily does not name juveniles accused of crimes, but does name some juveniles depending on the seriousness of the crime, their age, aggravating circumstances and other factors.