PORT ORANGE, Fla. (CBS12) — A 12-year-old was arrested Friday after deputies say she created a Snapchat account and sent herself messages threatening a shooting at her middle school.
According to the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office, the incident began on Tuesday when the student reported receiving alarming messages on Snapchat.
The girl told deputies “Alex” had demanded nude photos and threatened to carry out a shooting at her school if she did not comply.
Investigators said the messages included photos of guns, references to the student’s class schedule, and mentions of several of her friends. The student also reported that some of the messages had been deleted and claimed they contained explicit images sent by the suspect.
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Due to the seriousness of the allegations, detectives launched an investigation. Authorities coordinated with the Port Orange Police Department, conducted multiple interviews, and contacted both Snap Inc. and T-Mobile in an effort to identify the person behind the account. Because the report involved claims that a minor was being solicited for explicit images, investigators also notified the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children.
However, detectives say they later determined the student had created the account and sent herself the messages, obtaining photos of the gun from the internet.
The pre-teen was subsequently booked on counts of making a false report and unlawful use of a communications device.
During questioning, the girl reportedly told investigators she carried out the scheme after being dared to do it.
“These are the cases that disrupt school, spread fear, and consume the time and resources we need to continue to dedicate to real issues and real threats,” the sheriff’s office wrote in a post to Facebook.
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The investigation remains active as deputies work to identify other individuals involved.