'I dare anyone to come to school Tuesday' was Port St. Lucie teen's message on Snapchat

PORT ST. LUCIE — Police will confer with prosecutors to see whether criminal charges could result from what investigators said was a Snapchat post of what looked to be a real gun with the caption, “I dare anyone to come to school Tuesday.”

Port St. Lucie police were told about 10 p.m. Monday of the incident, which involved a 14-year-old student at Treasure Coast High School, police stated.

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“Concerned parents had called the police department saying that their child had discovered the post on Snapchat,” Master Sgt. Frank Sabol, police spokesman, said Tuesday morning.

“It looked like a real gun and the post said that they dare anybody to come to school on Tuesday.”

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Sabol said the weapon turned out to be a BB gun.

Sabol said investigators tracked down the person accused of posting the message.

“It led us to a house in Port St. Lucie, where a student who in fact goes to Treasure Coast High School said that it was a joke, that him and his friend had posted the Snapchat picture of the BB gun,” he said.

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Sabol said the BB gun closely resembled a real firearm.

“That’s why the fear factor came into it, because of the way the BB gun looked like a real gun,” Sabol said.

Kerry Padrick, St. Lucie County Schools spokeswoman, said via email parents and staff members got a robo-call notifying them of the incident before the morning bell.

“This is a serious matter, and SLPS (St. Lucie Public Schools) will pursue consequences in accordance with the Code of Conduct,” Padrick stated.

Padrick said the student was not at school Tuesday.

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"The partnership St. Lucie Public Schools has with local law enforcement is strong and greatly appreciated," she stated. "Likewise, the District appreciates parent, teacher, and student support in keeping campuses safe by reporting activity that is of concern."

Sabol said police don’t believe there is a threat to Treasure Coast High School.

“We believe that this was in fact posted by the parties we made contact with,” Sabol said. “We located the BB gun that looks the same as the post.”

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Sabol said the student reported it was a joke and that it was “just a BB gun.”

Police seized the BB gun in the student’s bedroom.

“We’re going to confer with the state attorney’s office to see if there’s any criminal charges,” Sabol said.