Pinellas deputies say he told them the Instagram posting was intended as a joke and that he made the post to gain followers and to “get some laughs” from his followers.

CLEARWATER – A Safety Harbor teen was arrested Sunday (Nov. 3) after he threatened school violence against Countryside High School on social media, the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office said.

The boy, 14, of Safety Harbor, was charged with one count of Written Threats to Kill, Do Bodily Injury, or Conduct a Mass Shooting or an Act of Terrorism. He is a student at Countryside, 3000 State Road 580, Clearwater.

Deputies said they received an anonymous complaint about 7 p.m. Sunday saying the 14 year old had posted photos of firearms on his Instagram account at about 5 p.m.l with the statement, “Don’t go to school tomorrow.”

The teen admitted to posting four images of firearms on his Instagram account, “monkeywitharifle,” with the caption, “Don’t come to school tomorrow THIS IS A JOKE. DO NOT REPORT (It’s not a joke),” according to deputies.

Deputies said the teen told them the posting was intended as a joke and that he made the post to gain followers and to “get some laughs” from his followers. He told deputies he did not believe anyone would take the post seriously.

The teen owns no weapons nor did he have access to weapons.

Deputies said they encourage the public to report any suspicious activity to law enforcement immediately and they will diligently investigate all reported information.

Photo of the posting courtesy of the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office.

Pinellas Sheriff | Crime | School Shooting | Arrests | Tampabay News | News Tampa

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