Three students detained after prank at Columbia County high school

FORT WHITE, Fla. — Three students were detained at Fort White High School after what authorities determined was a prank "that was not funny at all."

Three students had a firecracker at the school and as it exploded one of them fell to the ground as if he had been shot.

School resource deputies quickly determined it was not actual gunfire, which averted panic at the school.

Fort White High School was already on alert due to a threat deemed to be a hoax by investigators.

Over the past two weeks there have been social posts going around North Florida that there would be a shooting on Feb. 5 at an unidentified school.

Last week graffiti was found in the bathroom at Fort White High School that repeated the posts on social media. Deputies investigated the message and believed it to be a hoax. Parents posted on social media that they kept their children out of school on Friday.

“The safety of our children is a priority and we will thoroughly investigate any threat,” said Sheriff Mark Hunter.

Cox Media Group