Manatee County deputies arrest student after high school shooting threat
Deputies arrested a 14-year-old Braden River High School student who threatened a mass shooting on social media, according to the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office.
The sheriff’s office said it began investigating around 10:30 p.m. Sunday after learning about threats shared on Snapchat. In the message, the ninth-grader stated he was going to shoot multiple people at the school, deputies said in a news release.
Deputies said they had enough evidence to charge the student with making written or electronic threats to kill, do bodily injury, or conduct a mass shooting or an act of terrorism, a second-degree felony. Detectives said they arrested him early Monday and transported him to the Juvenile Detention Center.
The Bradenton Herald does not name juvenile suspects.
Deputies search student’s home
Deputies searched the student’s home and determined he did not have access to any unsecured firearms, according to the release. As a precaution, additional deputies were placed at Braden River High on Monday.
“Students’ safety remains our highest priority, and every report of a threat is taken very seriously,” Sheriff Rick Wells said in the release. “Making school threats is a serious matter and results in significant consequences. If you see a threat, report it immediately.”
Deputies said this is not the first time in 2025 a Manatee County student has been arrested for making a school shooting threat over Snapchat. In March, a 14-year-old Lakewood Ranch High School student was taken into custody after investigators said he threatened to carry out a shooting at the school, according to the sheriff’s office and school district.
The sheriff’s office urged anyone who comes across threatening information about schools to report it to law enforcement or through the Fortify Florida app at GetFortifyFL.com.
This story was originally published September 15, 2025 at 12:47 PM.
