Lakewood Ranch High student arrested after making school shooting threat, deputies say
Deputies in Manatee County arrested a 14-year-old Lakewood Ranch High School student Thursday afternoon after the sheriff’s office said he made online threats about a school shooting.
The Manatee County Sheriff’s Office said deputies began investigating after receiving a tip Wednesday through the Fortify FL app about a shooting planned for Friday. Several students also alerted school staff to concerning comments posted on Snapchat, according to a news release.
Detectives said they used Snapchat records to identify the student, confirming the phone number and email address linked to the account. Deputies then met the 14-year-old at the school and arrested him, the sheriff’s office said.
In a post on social media Thursday afternoon, the School District of Manatee County confirmed the arrest and said it worked with law enforcement “to ensure the safety of every student and staff member at Lakewood Ranch High School.”
The district also urged families to “discuss the seriousness of making a threat against a school and the life-altering legal and school district consequences that can result from it.”
“Students should also be reminded to report any information pertaining to potential threats to the school resource officer or Fortify FL,” the district wrote.
Fortify FL is an app that allows students, parents, and community members to report suspicious activity or threats to school safety.
The student is charged with making written threats to kill and disrupting a school function, according to the sheriff’s office. The Bradenton Herald does not name juvenile suspects.
This story was originally published March 13, 2025 at 5:44 PM.
