MCCRACKEN COUNTY, Ky. — A 15-year-old from Florida was arrested and charged with multiple felonies after allegedly communicating a threat to the McCracken County High School over TikTok.
According to a release from McCracken County Schools, the McCracken County Sheriff’s Office became aware of a threat communicated through TikTok in the early morning of Aug. 29. The MCSO immediately began an investigation, working closely with the McCracken County Schools Police Department.
The release states that the FBI traced the IP address associated with the threat to an address in Polk County, Florida. The Polk County Sheriff’s Office identified a 15-year-old juvenile in Lakeland Florida as the one allegedly responsible for the threats. The child was arrested and charged with multiple Felonies in the state of Florida, as well as a charge of second-degree Terroristic Threatening from the MCSO.
McCracken County Schools is assuring parents and students that the individual responsible for the threat has been identified and is in custody, adding that there is no active threat to McCracken County High School at this time.
“We are grateful to McCracken County Schools Chief of Police Wes Orazine, the McCracken County Sheriff’s Office, the FBI, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, and all the agencies that worked quickly to investigate the threat,” the release states.
The release urged parents to talk with students about the seriousness of making threats against people or schools.
“School safety is never a joking matter, and every threat—whether made verbally, in writing or online—will be taken seriously and investigated,” said Superintendent Josh Hunt. “Thank you for your continued support and for helping us keep our schools safe.”