Particle.news
Download on the App Store
3 ARTICLES
·
15h ago

Port St. Lucie Police Arrest 12-Year-Old Over Instagram Threats to St. Lucie West K-8

Investigators identified the account holder using platform records, corroborated by phone evidence.

{p}According to the arrest affidavit, the suspect created the account after a falling out with the victim over the summer. The victim, unaware of the account holder’s identity, messaged the account asking for the rumors to stop. Instead, the suspect escalated the situation, sending threatening messages and photos of firearms. (PSLPD){ }{/p}
Image
{p}School security was immediately notified, and additional law enforcement officers were stationed at the school the following morning. Detectives issued exigent legal orders to Meta, the parent company of Instagram, which returned subscriber information that helped identify the suspect. (PSLPD){ }{/p}
Image

Overview

  • Police say a St. Lucie West K-8 student created an anonymous Instagram account that sent violent threats to a classmate and referenced attacking the school.
  • Detectives obtained subscriber information from Meta through legal orders, then located the 12-year-old on campus and took him into custody without incident.
  • Officers seized the student’s phone, which was linked to the Instagram account used to send messages that cited weapons and mentioned Oct. 14.
  • Authorities report the firearm images were pulled from other social media and that neither the child nor his parents had access to guns.
  • The juvenile faces one count of electronic threats to kill or cause bodily injury or terrorism and was transported to the Department of Juvenile Justice.