Clay County

13-year-old arrested after making threats to commit a shooting at a Clay County Junior high school

GREEN COVE SPRINGS, Fla. — A 13-year old boy is facing felony charges, accused of threatening a mass shooting at Lake Asbury Junior High School. Deputies say the threat was made virtually, on an app called ‘House Party.’

According to the report, the boy made threats to hurt a female student and “shoot up the school” on or about August 12th, in an “electronic FaceTime conversation” on the app.

The school district says a female student told a teacher on Tuesday, and Clay School District police started investigating.

Clay County Sheriff, Michelle Cook, says deputies were notified Tuesday and made the arrest.

“Parents, and the citizens, in general, should feel at ease that we have a good working relationship, and we are all committed to keeping our residents safe,” said Sheriff Cook.

Cook tells us the boy’s grandparents, who he lives with, are cooperating and did not know about the threat.

Cook says the boy got the gun from his grandfather’s safe, after learning the combination.

“The grandparents inventoried the remaining items in the safe and confirmed there were no other firearms missing and they, on the spot there, changed the combination to the safe,” she said.

Clay schools say the boy’s been suspended and may be expelled from the school system depending on the investigation.

Deputies are encouraging parents to monitor their students’ social media activity, and ensure guns are locked away safely.

Anyone with additional information about the social media threat is encouraged to contact deputies.