Cape middle school student charged with publishing school threats
The Cape Coral Police Department reported this afternoon that a Cape Coral middle school student is facing charges after publishing photos to his Instagram account displaying a school threat.
At approximately 2 a.m. today, CCPD dispatch received a call from a Lee County Sheriff’s Office detective who had been made aware of a concerning Instagram post made by a 7th grader at Caloosa Middle School.
According to the CCPD, the image post showed a black pistol, boots and a referral from the school the student had received. In the comments section of the post, the student had stated he had a “starter kit;” when asked by one of his Instagram followers if it was a “school shooter starter kit,” he reportedly replied, “your [sic] not wrong.”
A CCPD patrol officer was immediately dispatched to the student’s residence, where contact was made with the youth and his mother. Through the investigation it was confirmed that the pistol (which turned out to be a BB gun), boots and referral were indeed the student’s, police said.
The BB gun and boots were taken as evidence, and probable cause was established for the student’s arrest for sending a written threat to conduct a mass shooting, Florida State Statute 836.10(1), a felony.
The youth was transported to the Lee County Juvenile Assessment Center.