Coral Springs: High school teen arrested, charged with school shooting threat
On Friday, Florida’s Coral Springs Police Department (CSPD) announced the arrest of an 18-year-old Taravella High School student, Catrina Petit, for threatening to commit a school shooting. That young lady now finds herself in a world of trouble and is facing felony charges and most likely a school expulsion.
Police reported that Petit sent the threat out fraudulently using another student’s name and computer access. The threat was later posted on social media causing concern in several counties throughout the state as a specific school being targeted was not identified.
Following her arrest, Petit was charged with multiple felonies and misdemeanors. According to CBS-12 News, Petit, who lives in Tamarac, was charged with:
- Three counts of intimidation – write/send threat to kill or injure (second-degree felony);
- One count of false report of weapon mass destruction (second-degree felony); and
- 15 counts of interfering with school administration functions (second-degree misdemeanor).
The threat that Petit posted threatening to shoot up the school on Friday morning also hinted at the possibility of a bomb planted inside the building. Local-10 News shared a statement by a Broward County Public Schools spokesperson, Nadine Drew, who said that making a school threat is a second-degree felony and carries school disciplinary consequences,like expulsion.
Petit’s threat warned of a shooting to take place on Friday and stated in part, “I may do it during the day or after the school day or in between classes. All I know is everyone must DIE”
The threatening message quickly went viral across multiple social media platforms. Since it wasn’t specific about the actual school’s location, it raised false alarms and concerns at different schools in South Florida and across the State.
But before Friday came to a close, the school district, in conjunction with law enforcement, released statements saying that the school shooing threat was not a credible one.
District administration and law enforcement have worked together to make sure this was not a credible threat to our schools, students and staff. In communication with the Florida State Department of Education, we were also made aware that this same social media threat was made in several districts across the state. We want to assure the public that the safety of our students and staff is always our first priority …
Nadine Drew, a spokeswoman for Broward County Public Schools, released a statement on Friday warning that making a school threat is a second-degree felony, and also carries school disciplinary consequences, like expulsion.
Following her arrest, the 18-year-old was remanded to the Broward County Jail. For more on Petit, who has since posted bond and released from jail on the conditions of house arrest and not being able to use a phone or computer, see the video accompanying this article.
(Source: Coral Springs Police Department) / (Cover photo, Broward County Jail)
Posted by Richard Webster, Ace News Today / Follow Richard on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram
